AUTCOM – The Autism National Committee: Dedicated to Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism

The Autism National Committee, better known as AutCom, is the only autism advocacy organization dedicated to “Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism” through a shared vision and a commitment to positive approaches.

AutCom was founded in 1990 to protect and advance the human rights and civil rights of all persons with autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and related differences of communication and behavior.

AutCom raises awareness of, and fights against, the practices of segregation, medicalization, and aversive conditioning of autistic children and adults. The Committee further believes that the principles of social justice can only be upheld through organizational methods which reflect the principles of equal rights under the law.

AutCom welcomes the participation of all family members, people with autism / PDD, caring professionals, and other friends who wish to implement, not debate, the right to self-determination by hearing and heeding the voices of people with autism. members and organizational partners have joined together to provide information, support, networking, advocacy, a strong voice in federal legislation and policy, conferences and trainings, and an ongoing reappraisal of fundamental research and treatment issues in the light of what people with autism themselves find meaningful and respectful.

Their web site, www.autcom.org, provides updates on politics and judicial decisions; commentary by people with autism; information about developmental and relationship-based approaches to early intervention and education; coverage of issues affecting community living, home-owning, and consumer choice; and advocacy for access to augmentative, assistive, and facilitated communication.

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AutCom and Facilitated Communication

AutCom is a strong advocate for Facilitated Communication, as stated in their position paper, Autism National Committee AutCom Policies and Principles Regarding Facilitated Communication. (PDF opens in new window; Adobe Reader required (click for free download)

“It is the policy of the Autism National Committee that everyone has something to say and the right to say it. Facilitated Communication is one accepted and valid way in which individuals with autism can exercise their right to say what they have to say.”


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AutCom and Public Advocacy

In the face of social policies of devaluation, which are expressed in the practices of segregation, medicalization, and aversive conditioning, AutCom’s goal is to protect and advance the human rights and civil rights of all persons with autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and related differences of communication and behavior.

As part of their core mission, AutCom advocates for and against public policy initiatives that would impact the rights of people with autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and related differences of communication and behavior. The issues they currently focus on include:

  • Restraint/Seclusion
  • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act
  • The ADA Generation and Employment for People with Disabilities
  • Expert witness fees

For more information on AutCom’s Congressional Activities, please contact Jessica Butler, AutCom Congressional Affairs Coordinator, at jessica@jnba.net

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AutCom Annual Conference

Each year, AutCom holds a conference to bring persons on the autism spectrum and their families together with teachers and other professionals, administrators, and policymakers to move forward in their lives and communities. An outstanding group of distinguished keynote presenters share their perspectives, experiences, training, research and valuable insights on a wide variety of subjects of concern and interest.

The 2013 AutCom annual conference, Autism: Lighting the Way, was held in October in Denver. The conference featured 24 presentations and was attended by approximately 100 individuals, which was lower than usual, primarily due to the extreme weather events experienced by the region around that time.
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The Communicator – The Autism National Committee Newsletter

In addition to its and resources, AutCom publishes The Communicator – The Autism National Committee Newsletter to provide the autism community with the latest news and information they may need. The newsletter includes essays by autistic writers, event and fundraiser information, and updates about legal issues that affect the autism community, as well as reports and photos from the annual conferences. You can read past issues in the AutCom newsletter archive. (PDF opens in new window)

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