National Autistic Advocacy Group Calls on
Sharron Angle
to Apologize for Damaging Remarks
Washington, DC – September 24th, 2010 – The
Autistic
Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a national advocacy organization of
Autistic
adults and youth, issued a statement today expressing concern about
damaging
remarks by the campaign of US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (fn 1) in
respect to adults and youth on the autism spectrum:
"As Autistic adults, we’re concerned by the
Angle
campaign’s claim that individuals and families 'falsely label other
symptoms as
autism' in order to take advantage of insurance mandates. Lack of
insurance
coverage for habilitative services, such as occupational therapy and
speech
pathology services, is a barrier to the civil rights of Autistic
Americans both
young and old. Furthermore, research suggests that far from being
over-diagnosed, Autistic people of all ages are under-identified, with
many
people going without needed services and supports. (fn 2) Whatever one's
public
policy views, fostering public ignorance and stereotypes about autism
hurts
Autistic people and our families. We urge US Senate candidate Sharron
Angle to
reconsider her campaign’s remarks and to apologize to Autistic Americans
and our
families for her campaign’s irresponsible statement."
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network does not
make
candidate endorsements and is a non-partisan organization run by and for
Autistic people. ASAN's supporters include Autistic adults and youth,
cross-disability advocates, family members, professionals, educators and
friends. ASAN was created in 2006 to provide support to individuals on
the
autism spectrum while working to change public perception and combat
misinformation by educating communities about persons on the autism
spectrum.
Our activities include public policy advocacy, community engagement to
encourage
inclusion and respect for neurodiversity, quality of life oriented
research and
the development of Autistic cultural activities and other opportunities
for
Autistic people to engage with others on the spectrum.
(1) The Angle campaign’s remarks can be found here:
http://www.mynews4.com/story.php?id=28446&n=122
- "Sharron believes that anyone affected with autism deserves the best
medical
coverage and treatment, and she speaks out against these expensive
government
mandates which falsely label other symptoms as autism because it creates
this
huge cottage industry that drives up health insurance cost while
diluting the
needed coverage for those patients affected by autism."