News & Announcements

Image is the AWN letter “a” logo with a spoonfly perched on the upper left corner.

AWN condemns JK Rowling’s anti-trans and ableist comments against trans women, autistic trans youth, and other trans people

June 10, 2020

All women’s experiences are real women’s experiences Like many of our community members, AWN is dismayed and disappointed to learn about JK Rowling’s most recent transmisogynistic comments about sex and gender. Among other comments, Rowling…

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Image description: image is a white cardboard protest sign with the words written in black ink, "If this protest bothers you then you're part of the problem #BlackLivesMatter"

Disability Justice Solidarity in Fighting White Supremacy and State Violence

June 1, 2020

Disability Justice depends on a politic and practice of active solidarity and collective work for liberation. The Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network’s leadership, staff, volunteers, and community members share in the rage and sorrow caused…

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AWN condemns TikTok “Autism Challenge” amid other failures to protect marginalized people from abuse on social media

May 19, 2020

AWN is troubled by the sudden popularity of the “Autism Challenge” dance challenge on TikTok, but where users encourage each other to film short clips pretending to dance by flapping their hands and making other…

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Image is the AWN letter “a” logo with a spoonfly perched on the upper left corner.

AWN mourns death of Aimee Stephens, first trans woman to bring civil rights case to Supreme Court

May 18, 2020

AWN is deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death of Aimee Stephens, a trans woman and advocate in Michigan who catapulted to national attention over the last few years when her employment discrimination case…

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Image shows a crocheted heart and crochet hook on a wooden surface. White text reads: "We have to know. That we will be okay no matter what skills we learn, what skills we lose, and what skills we end up with by the time we grow up. That the world will have a place for us. - Mel Baggs" A small AWN logo is in the bottom right corner.

On Mel Bagg’s untimely death

April 12, 2020

Yesterday, the autistic community, the self-advocacy movement, and humanity at large lost a titan, a leader, a visionary, a public intellectual, and an artist whose work has influenced, inspired, and forged paths forward for thousands…

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In times of crisis, we must take care of each other

March 29, 2020

Our world is in crisis – this is new for many people, and for many others in our communities, this is unfortunately very familiar. AWN’s board members, staff, and volunteers are working constantly to support…

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Image is the AWN letter “a” logo with a spoonfly perched on the upper left corner.

AWN Applauds FDA Action to Ban Electric Shock Torture of Disabled People

March 5, 2020

For over three decades, the Judge Rotenberg Center has subjected autistic and other disabled people to painful electric shock torture as a form of behavior modification to punish and control those confined there. The U.S.…

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Image text says: 2019 Autistics Present Symposium: Essential Youth Voices at Bellevue College a collaboration with The Bellevue College Neurodiversity Navigators Program and Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network.

Autistics Present Symposium: Essential Youth Voices

October 24, 2019

The fourth annual Autistics Present Symposium: Essential Youth Voices was a unique experience that provided a platform to center the voices of autistic youth, who are too often overlooked.

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AWN Condemns Proposals to Increase Criminalization of Psychosocial Disabilities

September 16, 2019

The Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network condemns in the strongest possible terms several recent proposals and statements from the Trump White House and surrogates that advocate for a return to institutionalization and creation of new…

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Image is a photo of Hannah Gadsby in a dark suit, holding some of her handmade pet rocks. A text box at the bottom says, “ADOPT A PET ROCK TODAY / No vaccinations required!* / *does not guarantee pet rocks will not be autistic”

We Heart Hannah Gadsby (& Hannah hearts us!)

August 22, 2019

Hannah Gadsby uses her public platform to speak honestly and openly about vital issues like disability, ableism, autism, sexism, misogyny and the public health importance of vaccination, and we love her for it! And recently,…

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Image: large electric shock icon (yellow triangle with black bolt of electricity) with a magenta ‘no’ symbol (circle and slash) over it. Smaller AWN logo beside the icon. Text says, #StopTheShock in black. Below it, “Tell the FDA: end all forms of abuse and torture at JRC now!” and #WeAreStillWaiting. Bottom corner says awnnetwork.org - Graphic design by Erin Human. Copyright © 2019 Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)

Stop the shocks: New toolkit builds on autistic community’s anti-JRC work

March 25, 2019

As part of our commitment to advancing social justice for all, AWN applauds all advocacy to stop the shocks and end all forms of abuse and torture at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Canton,…

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Image by Tim Hindes. Image text reads "STRONGER THAN HATE" and is set on a black background, a reflection of the old U.S. Steel logo (popularized by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ helmets) and shows two hypocycloid shapes in blue and orange/red. Replacing the traditional yellow shape is a Star of David. “Stronger Than Hate” — the official motto of the Shoah Foundation is printed in stark white letters. (Image description via https://bit.ly/2Q86v2E)

AWN Network’s Statement on the Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting in Pennsylvania

October 30, 2018

Autistic Women & Nonbinary (AWN) Network strongly condemns a recent act of anti-Semitic violence that took the lives of eleven Jewish people and has shaken a community locally and nationally, including a pair of brothers…

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* All articles on this website are offered as personal viewpoints of the author and should never be a substitute for your medical recommendations. Always consult your personal healthcare professional before making changes to your prescribed or recommended health care plan.