Advocacy

* Please note that these links are not endorsements and are for informational purposes only. They may or may not be up-to-date.

Canada

Autistics for Autistics (A4A Ontario) is a collective of autistic adults advocating for reform to autism funding and services, provincially and federally in Ontario, Canada, based in Toronto.

The Association for Developmental Autism Programs and Therapies (ADAPT) is a group of parents who believe that families should be the ones to decide on the best approach to supporting the growth of their children with autism. The goal of ADAPT is to provide information about developmental approaches to autism therapy in Manitoba.

Autistics United Canada promotes disability justice and creates connections by and for autistic people.

The Autism Developmental Approach Therapies Association (Autism DATA) is an advocacy group of parents and professionals who believe that families should have a choice in what approach they use to bring out their child’s highest potential. The goal of Autism DATA is for the province of Ontario to fund developmental approaches such as DIR/Floortime® as does the province of British Columbia.

London Autistics Standing Together (LAST) is a grassroots, peer-support, and self advocacy organization, entirely run by Autistic people. We are based in London, Ontario.

Michelle Dawson is an autism researcher who regularly tweets about autism studies with a keen interest in autism advocacy and human rights.

Noncompliant Podcast is a podcast about neurodiversity hosted by A4A co-founder, Anne Borden King, based in Toronto.

Disability Advocacy and Support

Ann’s Autism blog and twitter feed are fantastic resources by autistic self-advocate and autism field professional, Ann Memmott, that expose myths and lies about autism while sharing important research.

The Autistic Advocate is autistic self-advocate Kieran Rose’s site in the UK that has many articles, blogs and other information to re-define the autism narrative that is extremely helpful for parents trying to understand their autistic children.

Empowering Ability supports loved ones with developmental disabilities to be valued citizens and create their own Awesome ‘Ordinary’ Life.

Partners for Planning empowers peoples with disabilities and their families with free resources to create meaningful lives and secure futures, firmly rooted in community. Through their Planning Network, find webinars and free resources for creating a good life and a secure future for people with a disability and those who care for them.

Special Books by Special Kids (SBSK) interviews with people in the disability/neurodiversity community to tell their story in video format which “helps educate others on what it is like to live with a disability.” SBSK “seeks to normalize the diversity of the human condition under the pillars of honesty, respect, mindfulness, positivity and collaboration.”

United States

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is an American nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. “ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community, advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power.”

The Floortime Coalition of California (DIR® FT™COC) is a group of parents, families, and professionals promoting parent and family choice in therapies who are spreading the word about evidence-supported developmental approaches such as DIR/Floortime to help autistic people, and those with other developmental challenges, across the lifespan. They are committed to expanding awareness, access to, and use of developmental approaches through education, fundraising, research, networking, and policy advocacy.

The International Council on Learning and Development is the original and leading training resource for the Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model and DIR/Floortime. Through the genius and leadership of Dr. Stanley Greenspan, ICDL has led the transdisciplinary movement to implement a revolutionary approach to understanding and improving a child’s development. A not-for-profit organization dedicated to redefining and promoting each child’s development to their fullest potential, ICDL has a strong advocacy presence lead by Dr. Gil Tippy.

Maine DIR/Floortime® Advocacy Network is Maine parents & professionals advocating for access to DIR/Floortime, shown to be an effective treatment model for autistic children and developmental challenges.

Please contact us if your DIR/Floortime advocacy site is not listed here so we can add it to our list.

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