Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc.

Executive Director Emily Levine represented ASSEW at the 41st Annual Autism Society of America Conference in Dallas July 7th - 10th, along with immediate past-president Lynn Brusnahan.  Lynn serves on the national Autism Society board, and was the emcee for the award ceremony Friday morning.  Included among the honorees were Judy Endow, from Madison, who was honored for her video The Power of Words, and Sheila Wagner, who will be the featured speaker at our fall conference on October 7th, 2010.  Sheila’s latest book on inclusive education for High School students was the 2010 ASA’s literary work of the year. (more…)

Read Tim Shriver’s editorial about the bigotry behind the R-word, and urge your friends to visit this site and take the pledge!

February 24-25 I attended the Autism Society of America’s Day on the Hill in Washington DC, with 55 Chapter Leaders from around the country, representing 18 states. Wednesday, we met as a group to get an overview of legislation that ASA is working on, and Thursday we visited our Senators and Representatives offices to meet with staff who are responsible for health and education issues.

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Words matter.   The names we call others and the way we think about them can be degrading or they can be respectful. The choice is up to us.

The use of the R-word is hurtful to many.  The recent publicity over Rahm Emanual’s unthinking use of this word can be turned into a teaching moment for the communities we live in.  Special Olympics and Best Buddies used it as a springboard for a campaign to End the R-Word.  View the CNN story and then visit the website where you can learn more and decide if you are ready to pledge to end the use of the R-word.

CNN Coverage of the story

“Our language frames how we think about others. Help eliminate the use of the R-word in everyday speech.”

Website were you can pledge to stop using the R-word

National Resolution for Ending School Pushout

December 3, 2009 - Today over 180 organizations and individuals have signed on to support the Dignity in Schools Campaign National Resolution for Ending School Pushout, a call to action for our school systems to end the harsh disciplinary policies and law enforcement tactics that push too many young people out of school. (more…)

One message that Kari Dunn Buron taught at our fall conference was this:
When students can’t read - we TEACH
When students can’t do math - we TEACH
When students can’t get along with others - we PUNISH
When students are lacking in any skills, we need to support and teach, not punish.

Rep. Sandy Pasch has begun circulating a bill that would regulate the use of seclusion and restraint in Wisconsin’s schools, and promote the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). If you agree, please consider asking your representative to co-sponsor the PBIS Seclusion and Restraint Bill of 2009 being offered by Rep. Pasch.  (more…)