FW: Tell PETA to Stop Exploiting the Autistic Community!

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Tell PETA to Stop Exploiting the Autistic Community!

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Today's JFA:

Tell PETA to Stop Exploiting the Autistic Community!

Financial Bailout a Means to Pass Mental Health Parity

Sen. Joe Biden Introduces Crime Victims with Disabilities Act

National Association of the Deaf Makes Touchdown in Groundbreaking Redskins Case

Bazelon Center Publishes New Disability Vote Manual

Did You Know? (Disability Trivia)

Former AAPD Intern Advances in Rank in Congressional Office

Tell PETA to Stop Exploiting the Autistic Community!

The following message comes Ari Ne'eman, the President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN):Recently, the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched a new ad campaign entitled, 'Got Autism?', misleadingly implying that the consumption of milk is associated with the cause of the autism spectrum. PETA is misinforming the public about autism and thus joining a long line of unscrupulous groups that have sought to try and spread fear about autism as a means of pushing their particular agendas. Attempts such as these treat individuals with disabilities as pawns in the efforts of other constituencies. By refusing to acknowledge the right of the autistic community to be referred to with respect instead of as the focus of public hysteria, PETA contributes to a state of affairs which marginalizes the disability community. People with disabilities, our families and our supporters deserve better than the exploitation and fear-mongering that comes about when disability is used as a means of scaring the general populace. For millions across the globe, the answer to PETA's 'Got Autism?' question is an unequivocal yes. That should not spell the end of our lives or prevent us from being fully included throughout society. By exploiting us, PETA becomes a culprit in the social forces that marginalize people with disabilities and lead to the discrimination and prejudice that truly disable us. TAKE ACTION!Let PETA know how you feel about its choice to exploit autistic people by writing to them at info@... or call them at and dial 0. In addition, we encourage you to express your support for these ads' swift withdrawal by signing this online petition.Regards,Ari Ne'emanPresidentThe Autistic Self Advocacy NetworkREAD MORE:

>>Read an ABC news article from when the campaign launched.What Do You Think?What do you think of PETA's billboard campaign and its message around autism? Post your thoughts on AAPD's JFActivist Blog!

Financial Bailout Means to Pass Mental Health Parity

From The Washington Post (10/6):Bailout Provides More Mental Health CoverageBy ROBERT PEARWASHINGTON - More than one-third of all Americans will soon receive better insurance coverage for mental health treatments because of a new law that, for the first time, requires equal coverage of mental and physical illnesses.Representative J. Kennedy speaking at a rally in March on Capitol Hill. Mr. Kennedy and Representative Jim Ramstad, third from left, led the fight in the House for mental health parity.The requirement, included in the economic bailout bill that President Bush signed on Friday, is the result of 12 years of passionate advocacy...

>>Read more.

Sen. Joe Biden Introduces Crime Victims with Disabilities Act

On October 1, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) introduced the Crime Victims with Disabilities Act (S. 3668), which will increase the awareness, investigation, prosecution, and prevention of crimes against people with disabilities, in addition to improving the services made available to those who are victims of crimes. Although there is little legislative time remaining in this Congress, the Senate is planning a short 'lame duck' session of Congress following the November elections, and further action on this legislation may be pursued during that time. 'Lame duck' sessions of Congress occur during even-numbered years when Congress reconvenes after a general election in November to take final actions on certain legislation. The session is referred to as a 'lame duck' because certain Members of Congress returning for the brief session will have lost their seats in Congress during their bids for reelection and will not return in the new Congress.

>>Read the text of the legislation.

>>Read a press release from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)

National Association of the Deaf Makes Touchdown in Groundbreaking Redskins Case

From The Washington Post (Oct 3):Redskins Ordered To Continue CaptionsRuling Affirms Aid to Hearing-ImpairedBy Henri E. Cauvin and Steve HendrixA federal judge in Greenbelt has ruled that the Redskins must continue to run captioned play-by-play at FedEx Field and begin showing the lyrics of songs played in the stadium to offer deaf and hard-of-hearing fans the full game experience.The decision mandates that the team do much of what it began doing voluntarily after being sued...

>>Read more.

>>Read the press release from the National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

Bazelon Center Publishes New Disability Vote Manual

Message from AAPD's Disability Vote Project:The Bazelon Center recently published a new vote manual which is an excellent resource for people with mental disabilities, advocates, family members, service providers, election officials, state and local mental health and aging authorities, state legislators and others.Providing comprehensive information regarding both state and federal laws, this guide is an excellent template on which other organizations can model a voting guide. The Bazelon booklet covers several broad topics which include voter rights, challenges to competency, voter assistance, and how to respond to rights violations.

>>Download digital copies and/or purchase hard copies.

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