The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is an excellent place to begin learning about autism advocacy and how you can help your young or adult child develop self-advocacy skills. They have a variety of different books, articles, and videos celebrating autism acceptance and promoting social change. Check out their Resource Library for a comprehensive list of resources.
Some of the books they’ve published I’ve listed below:
Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking
And Straight on Till Morning: Essays on Autism Acceptance
Navigating College: A Handbook on Self-Advocacy
Welcome to the Autistic Community
Accessing Home and Community-Based Services: A Guide for Self Advocates
Other articles and interviews related to healthcare on this site:
Some additional resources:
No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement by Joseph P. Shapiro– This book covers a history of disability including social paradigms and public policy.
“The Spoon Theory”–This article depicts a simile to explain what it’s like to live with a disability. It will help parents understand the daily life of their children and some of the exhaustion they exhibit that appears puzzling or unwarranted.
Ollibean –Ollibean has a wealth of information and resources for parents learning to advocate for their disabled children.
Autism Acceptance Month Resources –This website from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network articulates the difference between autism awareness and acceptance.
The Autism Acceptance Project (TAAP) –According to the TAAP website, this organization is “dedicated to promoting acceptance of and accommodations for autistic people in society…and will bring forth a different and positive view about autism to the public in order to foster understand and acceptance, and to empower parents and autistic people” (“Mission Statement,” 2012). The site has links to several blogs by autistic people, parents, and medical professionals, and a variety of resources related to literature that supports autistic rights.
Autism National Committee (AUTCOM)– This is an organization devoted to social justice for all people on the spectrum. They provide resources for autistics and autism advocates to establish a voice in the national landscape of autism, including newsletters, articles, information on autism policy and legislation, conferences, trainings, and other publications.
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered –Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered is an organization devoted to providing self-advocacy groups with the resources necessary to achieve their mission.