“I live for the manageable days and pray that as time goes on, I find answers for the days that are not.”
Read more#AuthenticAwareness: Stop Shaming Severe Autism!
Why do some advocates single out severe autism as “shameful,” “undignified” and “embarrassing”? Champions of other neurological disorders have come under no such attack.
Read moreWhen Parents Hit the Breaking Point
#AuthenticAwareness of autism demands that we understand the mental and physical toll of unrelenting stress and exhaustion.
Read more#AuthenticAwareness: Feeling Defeated by Severe Autism and Fearing for the Future
On the cusp of Autism Awareness Month, a mother stresses that we must share our true stories to ensure those with severe autism aren’t abandoned by the world.
Read moreNo, We Will Not Be Silenced — The Need for #AuthenticAwareness
As we start our #AuthenticAwareness campaign for April, a mother decries our national crisis, saying the “lack of answers … is directly related to the fact that we’re scared to talk about it.”
Read moreA Podcast Is Born: Welcome to Autism Confidential
NCSA has launched Autism Confidential, a podcast that shines a light on the hottest issues in the world of autism, including topics often shunned by conventional media. Who cares for autistic adults after their parents die? How can we fix our broken care system? What interventions help, or hurt? Join hosts Jill Escher, Amy Lutz and others from NCSA as they take on the hardest questions of autism with leading thinkers and doers.
Find it on Apple here
Find it on Spotify here
Find it (with video) on YouTube here
Tune into the trailer episode:
Episode 1 - Introducing ... Autism Confidential!
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Autism Confidential is the new podcast sponsored by the National Council on Severe Autism. We focus on the topics of importance to those impacted by severe autism, including policy, research, treatment and services.
Highlights from this episode:
• Autism Confidential is a community effort, hosted by leaders from NCSA. Your introductory hosts are Jill Escher, president, and Amy Lutz, vice president
• We will focus on topics that are under-represented and ignored in autism media
• We will tackle difficult issues with honesty, and also connect with those outside our community
• Have ideas for episodes or speakers? Please email us at info@ncsautism.org
• Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please email us at info@ncsautism.org
Texas: Urgent Call to Action — New Rule Would Eliminate Key Housing Options for the Severely Autistic
Misguided new rule would gut residential options for Texas adults with severe autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Read moreNCSA Grassroots Network Targets State Policy
Thanks to its nascent Grassroots Network and its Policy Committee, NCSA has been increasing its focus on state-level policies that affect individuals and families with severe forms of autism. Two recent examples come from California and Tennessee.
In California NCSA joined other disability organizations in successfully modifying an extreme “supported decisionmaking” bill drafted by the ACLU that threatened the integrity of conservatorships in several ways (AB1663). Thanks to our efforts and those of our colleagues the bill was radically amended to remove its most problematic provisions, such as reduction of the “best interests” standard and an onerous proposed “Conservatorship Diversion Program.” You can read NCSA’s letter to the CA Assembly Judiciary Committee here.
In Tennessee, NCSA joined in opposing a bill intended to criminalize aggressive behaviors by special education students. The author of the bill is now in contact with a member of our Policy Committee to revisit the bill. You can read NCSA’s TN letter here.
Our Nation Grassroots Network remains in the process of forming — there’s still time to sign up! Please visit here.
Kudos to Autism New Jersey!
“Autism New Jersey is acutely aware that children and adults with autism and severe challenging behavior have few, if any, ways to access treatment.”
Read moreINSAR to Feature Special Session on Reduction of Severe and Challenging Behaviors in Profound Autism
INSAR 2022 will feature a special interest group devoted to addressing the critically urgent topic of severe behaviors.
Read more