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1. Actively listening to understand the "need" and/ the "why." Showing students collectively and individually that I truly care about what they have to say.

2. Use what I have learned about ASD to better help and support those students who have ASD in my future classrooms and schools.

3. Not judging a person by how they behave, but getting to know them in a meaningful way and form a relationship with them. Show them that I value what they have to say and what they think.

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I, Jessica Couture, commit to:

1) Expanding the ways for adults to listen to students in the classroom to make sure that my students are heard and supported by everyone they come in contact with.

2) Speaking out against any instances of injustice and abelism. Work to make sure that those who commit these injustices are informed of what it was and how to better address the situation the next time.

3) Work to keep myself educated about what self-advocates are fighting for and to be the best ally I can be for my students and their families.

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1) Being a listener, strength-noticer, and relationship-builder.

2) Continuously seeking new knowledge through coursework or professional development and, most importantly, first-person accounts.  Using this knowledge to reflect upon my own mindset and actions, regardless of any discomfort it may bring.

3) Voting for candidates, especially school committee candidates, who support inclusion, positive behavior approaches, and accommodations that create welcoming and safe school environments for autistic students.

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I, Lindsay Entwistle, commit to:

1.) Always listening with the intent to understand, rather respond, to my students. Sometimes a student just needs to be heard and to know that their words matter.

2.) See the beauty in every child. Get to deeply know the whole child in order to build trust and to build a meaningful relationship.

3.) Spread acceptance and help create more accepting environments for people with autism through educating children and adults. By spreading awareness and acceptance I hope to help children with autism create meaningful friendships with other kids and to also stop bullying of children with autism due to a lack of understanding from neurotypical children.

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1) Listening to understand my students and families to build relationships in a school community.

2) Continue to learn and educate myself on the positive  knowledge available to support the ASD community and pass along to others within my professional and personal circles.

3) Stand with and behind ASD organizations that support the acceptance of ASD and disabilities through the voices of self advocates.

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What can/will you commit  to do (0r try)as: an ally, as an advocate when called upon, and as a teacher, friend and/or family member?  Make 3 statements and include a pic or an icon

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1.) Doing all that is possible to include student voices in planning, assessment and disciplinary meetings at schools. When the child chooses to not attend, or not to speak, we will find another way to include the child's voice.

2.) Strengthening partnerships with organizations (such as Partners with Youth with Disabilities)providing mentoring and other services tailored to the needs of autistic children-- especially for those children who don't have a good support system at home.

3.) As the chair of my agency's cultural competence committee, ensure that neurodiversity issues are given the same attention and focus that racial, ethnic, gender and other issues receive. Staff should be given the same opportunities to learn and develop skills needed to support this population.

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I, Gregory Lamothe, commit to:

1.) Working more closely as an administrator with my PDD teachers to have our students more involved with our school community so that they feel part of our school in all of the events that we hold.

2.) Reminding adults in my building and in the outside world that people with ASD have a voice and make sure to let them have their voice heard and help give/supply them the tools they need in order to use their own voice.

3.) Working with our local school officials in my administrative role to educate all schools in our district on children with ASD to help move our district to the forefront of being completely inclusive

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I Beverely Cush Evans commit to

1)  Listening more to my Autistic friends about what matters most to them about what should be shared in the new courses and being a better friend! CELEBRATING the genius of Autism!

2) Standing up or representing autistic people in due process or court hearings when ASKED by the autistic person, rather than family or lawyer!

3)Signing any and all petitions endorsed by ASAN and responding to any call to action by that organization

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I Jacqui Flamand commit to:

1.) Celebrating autism by listening to what self-advocates feel, need, want and believe so that I can educate and inform others through professional development at work and within my community.

2.) Speaking out against any and all ableism that I hear or see in the community as well as with my closest friends and family, which can be difficult at times.

3.) Working to create a more inclusive environment in any school that I work in by accommodating and supporting individuals with autism in all classroom settings and teaching the general education teachers and paraprofessionals how to do so too...I will be their resource as well as show them other viable resources to help them.

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I Danielle Eddins commit to:

1.) Place an emphasis on building relationships and a sense of community between the autistic person, their family, their community, myself and our world through celebrating the genius of Autism.

2.) As a teacher, offer to run presentations on effective classroom environments, creating plans for students for positive behavior management, creating a support plan for student's, and how to find out what student's are trying to communicate through behavior.

3.) Create videos about Autism and make viewers aware of how we all can be productive advocates for Autism!