Thursday's hearing at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform should have a robust attendance. Landon Bryce writes at thAutcast:
I just got confirmation that the House Oversight Committee has invited two leaders of the autistic self-advocacy community to be witnesses at the hearing they are holding this Thursday on the federal government's response to autism. The majority members have invited Michael John Carley, president of the Global and Regional Asperger's Syndrome Partnership, and the minority members have invited Ari Ne'eman, president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
Mr. Carley told me, "My hope is to convey to the committee that how we proceed (with special regard to tone), is just as important as the question of 'in what direction do we proceed?'"From ASAN:
On November 29th, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will be holding a hearing on autism. Invited witnesses include people from government agencies, parent autism advocacy organizations, AND Autistic self-advocacy organizations. We are pleased to report that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform staff have just reached out to us to invite Autistic representation to this Thursday’s hearing.
Thanks to all of you for making your voices heard and to the House Committee for hearing the messageNothing About Us, Without Us! Whether you faxed letters of support for Autistic representation at the upcoming hearing or signed our petition, your voice has been heard. Now Autistic voices will be heard as well. ASAN President Ari Ne’eman has been invited as one of not one but TWO Autistic witnesses scheduled to testify at the hearing.
The journey doesn’t end there. Come join us in showing support to Autistic people speaking! We’ll be gathering together at the Rayburn House Office, Room 2154 on the day of the hearing. The hearing itself will begin at 2 PM, but as we anticipate a packed room ASAN will begin gathering besides the door to the hearing at 11 AM. RSVP via our Facebook event page.
Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health
Coleen Boyle, Ph.D.
Director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mr. Bob Wright
Co-Founder
Autism Speaks
Mr. Scott Badesch
President
Autism Society
Mr. Mark Blaxill
Board Members
SafeMinds
Mr. Bradley McGarry
Coordinator of the Asperger Initiative at Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst University
Mr. Michael John Carley
Executive Director
Global & Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership
Mr. Ari Ne'eman
President
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
