This Thursday, Nov. 29, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing “1 in 88 Children: A Look Into the Federal Response to Rising Rates of Autism“. The original witness list (at least as far as I have heard, it is not on the Committee’s website) did not include autistic witnesses. It appears that has changed. Here is an announcement from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (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 message Nothing 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.
You made this happen!
Regards,
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
It will be an uphill battle to get anything accomplished at this hearing, in my opinion. It’s a lame duck congress and a relatively short hearing. But the precedent has been set that autistics will be present. The precedent was set years ago that parents will be present.
—
By Matt Carey
Left Brain Right Brain 
“But the precedent has been set that autistics will be present.”
Well, that’s something. I mean, that really is something!
Yes, baby steps, but at least that’s going in the right direction! It was HARD getting them to let some autistic people into their hearing! Sheesh!
You would think, since an autistic adult was appointed in a federal position related to disabilities by the president that congress would get a little clue also, without the public having to beg for it. I guess though, when it really comes down to it, this hearing was only one last ditch effort for a retiring congressman to stand up and say again how vaccines cause autism. I don’t think his voice will be very convincing if he’s surrounded by autistic advocates. Awesome that they have been invited! I believe this shows a significant shifting in the paradigm of autism and how society views people with it.
The federal government must take over the manufacturing of vaccines and ensure safety testing of vaccines and GMOs.
Spammer Alert Above.
Get a job lilady really can you not cope with a difference of opinion – ya fool !
Hello necromancer. What have you done so that the sham autism Congressional Hearings attempted to deny adult autistics the opportunity to testify, and where Andrew Wakefield wined and dined Committee members to *set the anti-vaccine agenda*?
You’re a fool.