Ari Ne'eman

Autistic Pride Flag

Ari Ne'eman (born December 10, 1987) is an American autism rights activist and researcher. He is the co-founder and former president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), an organization run by and for autistic people. Ne'eman has been a prominent advocate for the neurodiversity movement, which seeks to promote the acceptance and inclusion of autistic individuals and others with neurological differences.

Early Life and Education

Ari Ne'eman was born in East Brunswick, New Jersey. He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at the age of 12. Ne'eman attended Rutgers University, where he studied political science.

Advocacy Work

In 2006, Ne'eman co-founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) with the goal of advancing the principles of the neurodiversity movement. ASAN advocates for policies that support the rights and inclusion of autistic individuals in society. The organization also works to combat harmful stereotypes and misinformation about autism.

Ne'eman has been a vocal critic of organizations and practices that he believes are harmful to autistic people, such as the use of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and the portrayal of autism as a tragedy in fundraising campaigns.

Government and Policy Work

In 2009, Ne'eman was appointed by President Barack Obama to the National Council on Disability, making him the first openly autistic person to serve on the council. In this role, he worked on issues related to disability rights and inclusion.

Ne'eman has also been involved in various legislative efforts, including advocating for the Autism CARES Act and the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.

Publications and Research

Ne'eman has written extensively on topics related to autism and disability rights. His work has been published in various academic journals and media outlets. He is also a co-editor of the book "Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking," which is a collection of essays by autistic authors.

Awards and Recognition

Ari Ne'eman has received numerous awards for his advocacy work, including the Advocates in Disability Award from the HSC Foundation and the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards.

See Also

• Autism rights movement
• Neurodiversity
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network
• Asperger syndrome
• National Council on Disability