Autism Network International (ANI) is an advocacy organization run by and for autistic people. ANI's principles involve the anti-cure perspective, the perspective that there should not be a goal to "cure" people of autism

Autism

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...

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Autreat

Autreat is a United States retreat and conference hosted by Autism Network International for autistic people. The first Autreat was in 1996. As of 2010, there has been an Autreat every year since then except 2001.

Autreat is a conference for autistic people, in contrast to other autism conferences, which ANI believes are typically about autistic people but are intended for parents and professionals. Although parents, professionals, and others are welcome, Autreat is specifically designed for autistics, and offers an autistic-friendly environment, free of sensory bombardment. Guests are under no pressure to interact socially. A simple visual code in the form of a colored badge is used to indicate members who wish to interact with anyone and everyone, those who wish not to be approached by strangers, and those who wish not to be approached at all.

Autreat was the inspiration for Autscape, another autism conference held in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

annually starting in 2005.

Autreat was also some of the inspiration for the ASPIE school; in her book Elijah's Cup, ASPIE founder Valerie Paradise talks about her experiences going to Autreat with Elijah.

External links

• Autism Network International official site
• Autreat