Aspies For Freedom
Aspies For Freedom (AFF) is a solidarity and campaigning group that aimed at raising public awareness of the autism rights movement. The aim of Aspies For Freedom is to educate the public that the autism spectrum is not always a disability, and that there are advantages as well as disadvantages. For this purpose, the group organizes an annual Autistic Pride Day. AFF provides support for the autistic community and protests attempts to cure autism. Established in 2004 by Amy and Gwen Nelson, AFF has received coverage from publications such as "New Scientist" magazine. As of August 2007 , "The Guardian" estimated the group's membership at 20,000. Rob Crossan, writing for the BBC, mentioned their belief that higher functioning autistics are often in possession of extraordinary talents in the fields of mathematics, memory, music or arts. Current activities. AFF provides a chatroom which provides support for autistics and their carers such as family members. AFF also helps organise and encourage meetups within the autistic community. Activism. Gwen Nelson, the founder of Aspies For Freedom, has made internet parodies of Autism Speaks, saying that they were silencing opposing views. Aspies For Freedom petitioned the United Nations in 2004 to  have members of the autistic community recognised as a minority status group. A statement was released from the group titled 'Declaration of the autism community'. This article detailed reasons for seeking such official recognition from the United Nations and the work towards achieving this. AFF was cited by "The Guardian" as a resource for autism employment assistance. Gwen Nelson and Aspies For Freedom have spoken out against prenatal genetic testing for autism spectrum disorders, portraying autism as a difference as opposed to a disease.