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AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK

AUSTRALIA

20/5/09

A4 LOCKS OUT AUTISTIC MEMBERS

STATEMENT CONCERNING A4 – AUTISM ASPERGER ADVOCACY AUSTRALIA

ASAN AUSTRALIA understands from its members that as of today all Autistic
members have been exclude from the Steering Committee of A4 (Autism Asperger
Advocacy Australia) which has now been renamed the A4 Advisory Group.
Convener of the A4 Advisory Group Bob Buckley states in an email to all A4
members:

“A majority group decided to separate itself from a minority dissenting
group (formerly in A4 SC) who do not accept and object to long-standing
polices and practices of the A4 SC.”

This minority dissenting group just happens to contain all of the people
with a diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder that sat on the A4 Steering
Committee up until 18/5/09. This minority group has long been battling to be
part of the national voice that is A4 and now finds themselves excluded from
the very group that once claimed to represent them.

ASAN AUSTRALIA finds this situation unacceptable, reprehensible in fact. We
suggest that in light of this move A4 not be seen as a legitimate voice for
those on the autism spectrum who can speak for themselves.

An ASAN AUSTRALIA Convener can be contacted for comment via
autisticadvocacy@gmail.com <autisticadvocacy%40gmail.com>

—
Ari Ne’eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC  20036
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org
732.763.5530