Advocacy organizations

Autism advocacy organizations

Autistic Self Advocacy Network
"The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for Autistic people. ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the Autistic community run by and for Autistic Americans, advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of Autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power."

Autism Women's Network
"The mission of the Autism Women’s Network is to provide effective supports to Autistic women and girls of all ages through a sense of community, advocacy and resources ... AWN provides a safe space to share our experiences in an understanding,  diverse and inclusive environment."

AUTCOM
"AUTCOM is the only autism advocacy organization dedicated to 'Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism' through a shared vision and a commitment to positive approaches. Our organization was founded in 1990 to protect and advance the human rights and civil rights of all persons with autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and related differences of communication and behavior."

Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library
"The mission of the Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Library is to promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion for Autistic people. Our organization is dedicated to the ideas of neurodiversity, social justice, Autistic/Disabled Pride and disability rights. The lending materials we offer will reflect the wide and diverse scope of autism and intersectional identities. We are working toward building an inclusive community and providing relevant resources and information for Autistic people, our families, friends and allies."

Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education
"AASPIRE is an academic-community partnership composed of health-services and disability researchers, autistic self-advocates, healthcare providers, disability service professionals, and family members. AASPIRE uses a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) or Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to conduct research that may improve the lives of people on the autistic spectrum."

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"A one-stop source for carefully curated, evidence-based information from autism parents, autistics, and autism professionals. The goal of TPGA is to help you fast-forward past society’s rampant autism fabrications and negativity, by providing clear, thoughtfully presented, balanced, and referenced information."
Note: TPGA has also published a guide to evaluating autism advocacy organizations.

General disability advocacy organizations

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered

"SABE’s Mission: To ensure that people with disabilities are treated as equals and that they are given the same decisions, choices, rights, responsibilities, and chances to speak up to empower themselves; opportunities to make new friends; and to learn from their mistakes."

TASH

"TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect and institutionalization. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families and self-advocates. The inclusive practices TASH validates through research have been shown to improve outcomes for all people."

Ollibean
"Ollibean is a dynamic community of parents, families and advocates in the disability community working together for a more socially just, accessible and inclusive world."