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N o 5265 June 2016 English Edition Autism - Europe Our campaign: Respect, Acceptance, Inclusion “On the High Seas”: A film to promote the inclusion of children with autism Jon Spiers, Chief Executive of Autistica, on the report denouncing early death among autistic people Adam Bradford, self-advocate and Queen’s Young Leader 2016: “I hope this recognition inspires other young autistic people to reach their goals” Autism-Europe’s 11th International Congress: Keynote speakers announced Published by Autism-Europe Afgiftekantoor - Bureau de dépôt : Brussels - Ed. responsable : Z. Szilvasy For Diversity Autism-Europe aisbl Rue Montoyer, 39 • B - 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel.:+32-2-675 75 05 - Fax:+32-2-675 72 70 Against Discrimination E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.autismeurope.org SUMMARY Activities - World Autism Awareness Day campaign 2016 ................... 3 - Autism-Europe’s Annual General Assembly 2016 in Cagliari, Italy .............................................................. 7 News & FeAtures - The “On the High Seas” project ....................................... 8 - Premature mortality among persons with autism. Interview with Jon Spiers, Chief Executive of Autistica .................. 10 - App “Oral Health – SOHDEV” improving oral health Dear friends, for people with autism ................................................... 12 It is with great pleasure that we present this latest edition - Interview with Adam Bradford, self-advocate of our LINK magazine, which offers an overview of Autism- and Queen’s Young Leader 2016 ................................... 13 Europe’s recent activities as well as news from a range - Keynotes speakers announced for Autism-Europe’s th of different stakeholders in the world of autism. In this 11 International Congress ........................................... 14 issue, you will be able to get to know our new member - The “Eight Points” project ............................................. 15 associations. We would like to warmly welcome these - Gautena announced winner of the European Citizen Award ................................................. 17 new members and express our happiness at seeing our - ARAPI’s 11th Regional Seminar “Autism and adulthood. network continue to expand and become enriched with From clinic to intervention” ............................................ 17 new approaches and perspectives. This issue will take a look back over our “Respect, New members Acceptance, Inclusion” campaign, launched on World - Lietaus Vaikai, Lithuania ................................................ 18 Autism Awareness Day, April 2. Through this campaign - Autism Today, Bulgaria… ................................................19 we are encouraging the general public to get to know - JiM Foundation, Poland ................................................. 20 autism better and to work together to create a more - Qudurati Centre, Saoudi Arabia .................................... 21 inclusive world where everyone can participate fully. This - Members List ............................................................... 22 aim goes hand in hand with the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and echoes UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon’s call for more neuro- collaborators diverse societies. editorial committee: Aurélie Baranger A neurodiverse society is made rich by the individual strengths and diversity its Zsuzsanna Szilvasy Evelyne Friedel members have to offer. With this in mind, we interviewed Adam Bradford who Pietro Cirrincione was recently honoured by the Queen of England for his work as a social entrepre- Harald Neerland Maria Wroniszewska neur. He too calls for greater understanding and support for people on the autism Claude Schmit spectrum in order to bring about improvements in quality of life. Marta Roca writing, editing & coordination: We will also be exploring the serious issue of premature mortality among persons Cristina Fernández with autism. Autistic people pass away on average 16 years earlier than their Haydn Hammersley neurotypical counterparts. It is essential to ensure continued cooperation in translation: researching solutions to promote equal opportunities, as well as to mobilise public Magali Vlayen authorities to better respect the rights of persons with disabilities. Layout & Printing: mmteam sprl - +32-495-52-32-92 - Frédéric Maigret How can we live a happier and healthier lives in which all people’s rights are cover: respected? This will be the key question raised during our International Congress, Marco and his mother, participants in the “In Alto Mare” (On the High Seas) project, which aims to produce a documentary-film to promote the inclusion of children which will take place from the 16 to the 18 September in Edinburgh (UK). We hope with autism and their families. Photo from Diversamnte Onlus for Autism-Europe. you will join us as we come together to share knowledge and experiences, and to Autism-europe jointly face the common challenges ahead of us. Rue Montoyer 39 • B-1000 Bruxelles • Belgique Tél.: +32-2-6757505 We very much hope you enjoy reading this edition, Fax: +32-2-6757270 E-mail: [email protected] Site Internet : www.autismeurope.org Account number: Zsuzsanna Szilvasy Aurélie Baranger Banque BELFIUS : IBAN : BE21 0682 0816 9303 / BIC : GKCCBEBB President Director Reproduction of articles is permitted provided that AUTISM-EUROPE is acknowledged as the source, with the exception of articles with a © symbol at the end of the article. Articles and information for future issues of LINK are welcome. They should be sent to the address above. LINK est aussi publié en français. Si vous souhaitez recevoir notre revue en français, veuillez en avertir notre sécretariat à l’addresse ci-dessus. Published with the support of the DG EMPL- Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission, under the European Community Programme- Rights, Equality and Citizenship. Pour la diversité Contre les discriminations The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of the European Commission. Activities ©Autism-Europe Banner for Autism-Europe’s World Autism Awareness Day campaign 2016 Pass the baton to promote the respect, acceptance and inclusion of people with autism! On world Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd), Autism-europe launched its 2016 campaign focusing on the theme “respect, Acceptance, inclusion”. this slogan was selected by its members, shifting the focus from mere “awareness” to “acceptance” of autism, and conveying a positive message about autism. During the long-running campaign, people are invited to raise prevent inclusion. To include people with autism, society must awareness on social media and during events by symbolically show acceptance. This requires respecting the diversity of those passing a relay baton to promote greater inclusion and partici- around you and accepting them for who they are. The notions pation of people with autism in society. This symbol was chosen of respect, acceptance and inclusion are thus intrinsically linked. because, as well as embodying an act of acceptance and inclu- sion, through its reference to sport the relay baton highlights The campaign is based on the social model of disability and the strength that comes from working together and complemen- has a strong rights-based approach, recalling the principles of ting each other. the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities to trigger the conditions for an inclusive society. This One of the biggest barriers faced by people on the autism is reflected in the campaign manifesto, which outlines Autism- spectrum is the discrimination they experience in many fields of Europe’s call for action to policy-makers. life. It often stems from a lack of understanding about what it really means to be autistic. Attitudinal barriers, stereotypes and The closing of this long-running campaign, and Autism-Europe’s prejudices hamper the participation of autistic people in society. 11th International Congress, will coincide with the Paralympic games taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The visual identity of It is time for society to gain a better understanding of autism the campaign, with the relay baton symbolising respect, accep- to remove the barriers that autistic people face, and which tance and inclusion, goes hand in hand with the theme of sport. Page 3 building momentum throughout europe Autism-Europe’s members throughout Europe have already taken the baton and passed it on for respect, acceptance and inclusion. People from every corner of the continent joined forces to spread the campaign’s message. ©Autism-Europe People from every corner of Europe joined forces to spread the campaign’s message. In the collage above (from left to right and from top to bottom), there are examples of supporters from Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Malta, FYR of Macedonia, Cyprus and Slovakia. the power of social media networks To help promote the campaign, Autism-Europe set up a Thunderclap. Thunderclap is a programme that allows campaign organisers to register people’s messages of support and to pre-programme them to be released simultaneously via social España ©Autismo media on a given date. In the case of the “Respect, Acceptance, Inclusion” campaign, all of the messages became visible on the morning of the 2 April. With the help of the Thunderclap, the campaign message