Elesia Ashkenazy

Portland, OR

Diagnosed on the autistic spectrum and profoundly deaf, Elesia Ashkenazy is devoted to Disability Rights and self-advocacy, and seeks to promote widespread understanding of the needs and rights of Autistic individuals. Elesia is the Chapter & Outreach Coordinator for Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and is also a former Board member. She is the Community Council Chair and a Research Assistant for Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE). She is a member of a Subcommittee for the Oregon Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Elesia is also on the Community Advisory Board for the Partnering with People with Developmental Disabilities to Address Violence Project. She is pleased to join the Editorial Board of Self Advocates As Leaders (SAAL). And she is also the new Editorial Coordinator for Autism Women's Network.

http://aspitude.blogspot.com/

Elesia signed the petition | over 2 years ago

Keep the CFC Option and the CLASS Act in Health Reform
Elesia signed the petition | over 2 years ago

Tell the USDA factory farming isn't 'natural'!
Elesia commented on the article | over 2 years ago

The Truth About Autistic Females

Thanks for your support Meg. Best wishes on your path.
Elesia commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Blasting Stereotypes in Autistic Females

@Ted: Hey there! Thanks for reading my article. I appreciate your input. As far as ASAN-PDX, I usually try and stay out of *hot* conversations. I do, however, learn a lot from the information shared and disseminated on that group email list.
Elesia commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Blasting Stereotypes in Autistic Females

@Leith: Thank you for your commentary. Hopefully, the message that Change.org is much more interactive than perceived will spread. Change.org users can actively post their own Actions, as well as recommend and be a part of the Non-profits section (it's actually a lot like Facebook).

I think it's great when community service workers look to the actual people in the communities they assist, for knowledge, guidance, and ideas. Glad to see you doing so. Best wishes!
Elesia recruited Moderator to sign the petition | almost 3 years ago

End the Perpetuation of Pity
Elesia commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Once Upon a Time, I Tried to Recover My Son From Autism

I am GFCF and so is my son. I never took on this diet thinking that it would *cure* either my son or me. And I've never been to a DAN! doctor.

The reason I am GFCF is because I feel better when I stick to this way of eating.

In our case, neither my son nor me have changed--as far as autism goes. We're both still definitely on the spectrum. The only thing that causes a slight beneficial change in my behavior is to cut out sugar and caffeine, which are near deadly to my system.
Elesia signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

Tell the St. Lucie County School District to Respect the Rights of Students with Disabilities
Elesia commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

More Autism Than You'd Think; However......

I appreciate Lisadom's commentary:

"...continued advocacy for and by people who have autism, at any "level" including speaking publicly will make it harder to de-humanise and therefore disregard the civil rights of anyone whose disability precludes them from advocating for themselves."

Why must autistic people who are highly self-determined, or who are considered *mild*, "high-functioning," or even Asperger's autistic, supposed to not experience struggles worth any attention or aid? Where is the data behind that belief? Or is this belief just one of many ongoing highly damaging assumptions?

Seriously, some people on the autistic spectrum who are *mild* struggle so much to be a part of this world (or to receive a diagnosis), that they reach a point of terminal surrender and end up committing suicide. Should suicide also be classified by different levels?

It is extremely taxing and difficult to live life being accused of--for lack of better words--making autistic mountains out of autistic molehills. ALL autistic people deserve appropriate rights and services!

Obviously, autistic people who are *severe*, or who are less self-determined, may face significant daily struggles. This information is not new. But I have yet to interact with an Autistic community member who is interested in serving only the needs of those who are deemed *mild* or Asperger's autistic.

There are plenty of autistic people who struggle greatly in daily life who happen to contribute significant ideas, facts, information, and opinions regarding autism by composing awesome blogs and even interacting with media sources.

Attempting to blast so-called high-functioning autistics out of the water is a form a of prejudice and intolerance. Do we force people of different races to state how dark or light their skin is so that we can assess where they fall on some made-up 'wheel of importance' or internal judgment system? No. But there are people out there who would probably jump at this idea--if we let them.

Humans are diverse. There are many subdivisions and genetic variations between us all. Classifying and dividing humans--on a rigid grand scales--for the sole purpose of deciding whose needs are more important will always lead to bias, subjectivity, and ill-feelings. At its worst, it can lead to destruction and extermination.

So what's so bad about working together for the greater of the whole?
Elesia commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

More Autism Than You'd Think; However......

I'm running out of patience with media, public, and professionals who downplay *mild* autism, which completely ignores uneven skills and other similar or related variants.

Mild autism is not the same as mild vision loss or even a mild scrape on the knee.