<div>Welcome! We are planning the first ever local <a href="https://autisticprideday.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Autistic Pride Day</a>, to take place in or near Newton, MA and inspired by the international Autistic-led movement (learn more about the history at the link above). Our mission, vision and dream plans are below, <strong>but we need YOU to help fund the day</strong>, if you can. If you are interested in helping in other ways, such as by hosting an activity table, sharing ideas, showing artwork at the event, or donating anything from food to fidgets, you'll find sign-up links at the end of our description! In the event that we raise more than we need for the event, we will donate any remaining money to an Autistic-led organization whose mission is compatible with ours. 
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<div><strong>Mission Statement</strong>
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<div>To create a safe, inclusive, and affirming space where Autistic individuals can celebrate identity, express pride, and connect authentically—while engaging the broader community in recognizing neurodiversity as a vital part of human rights and human experience.
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<div><strong>Vision Statement</strong>
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<div>We envision a world where Autistic people of all ages and identities are free to be their authentic selves without shame, pressure to mask, or marginalization. A world where schools, cities, and communities honor the spectrum of neurodivergent experiences—not with pity or tokenism, but with validation, pride, and joy.
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<div><strong>Event Description: Autistic Pride Day</strong>
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<div>Autistic Pride Day is an Autistic-led, community-rooted celebration of neurodivergent identity, joy, and resilience. It's more than a day—it’s a movement toward visibility, dignity, and collective liberation for Autistic people. Autistic pride day recognizes and validates the dynamic, heterogeneous and multifaceted ways Autism shows up for different people at different times in their lives. This embracing of diversity within the Autistic community happens through an intentional commitment to understanding how Autism intersects with other identity categories (such as race, class, gender, sexuality, age, co-occuring disabilities, and more) and impacts the supports, stereotypes, oppressions and life experiences of Autistic people. We are also advocating to have Autistic Pride Day formally recognized by local schools, the city and the state.
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<div>On this day (as we ought to be able to do on all days), we will rock—joyfully, unapologetically, and proudly!
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<div><strong>Event highlights (depending on YOU - our funders!) may include:</strong>
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<ul>
<li><strong>Food and drink</strong> - free if we get enough funding, for sale if not (an ice cream truck!)
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<li><strong>Sensory-friendly eating / picnic / social spaces</strong> with quiet zones, loud-noise-friendly and medium-noise areas, and cozy seating
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<li><strong>Color-coded wristbands or traffic-light name tags </strong>to communicate social interaction preferences
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<li><strong>Community art </strong>- art project and/or art show, and/or performances featuring Autistic artists
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<li><strong>Cozy reading area</strong> with books to read by Autistic authors / highlighting Autistic people; maybe books for sale too
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<li><strong>Fidget toys / Sensory Tools </strong>- available to borrow for sensory regulation and joy, maybe free giveaways of these too (with funding or donation)
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<li><strong>Physical play space</strong> - for expression and joy
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<li><strong>♾️ Infinity symbol (rainbow and gold) merchandise</strong> - as tokens of pride and solidarity, giveaways and/or sales depending on funding
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<li><strong>Affirming community booths</strong> offering info, activities, and allyship (and maybe free giveaways!)
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<li><strong>Optional name tags</strong> with “Ask me about _____” to celebrate passionate interests
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<li><strong>Optional pride march</strong>, a way for people to be visibly and authentically themselves
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<li><strong>AACs available</strong>, including low-/high-tech options (QR codes, handouts, posters)
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<li><strong>Stakeholder survey</strong> to gather input and ideas from the community for future similar events, maybe to include real-time “chalk-talk” boards too
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<div>Outside of a main event we are hopeful to inspire the following, some of which may not be able to occur yet this year:
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<li><strong>School recognition:</strong> newsletters, intercom messages, optional classroom activities or day off for students
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<li><strong>Panel discussions and/or speakers: </strong>“What Is Autistic Pride?”—open to diverse perspectives, including those still processing their journey
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<li>️ <strong>City /State resolution:</strong> Inviting local officials to formally recognize June 18 as Autistic Pride Day
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<div>This is a human rights celebration, not one-size-fits-all. Not every Autistic person feels proud every day, and not everyone identifies as disabled. For many, this day represents the right to exist without hiding. No matter who you are, nobody will have to share their neurotype, but today you don’t have to hide Autistic traits either. The day will celebrate neurodiversity and also acknowledge past and ongoing oppression and the impact of forced masking —while offering a joyful, collective reimagining of what acceptance can truly mean.
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<div>Thank you for contributing in any way that you can! If you cannot give money, but you would like to partake or contribute in other ways, please fill out one of the forms linked below.
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<div>Sincerely, Newton's APD ad-hoc planning team, Haley, Jenna and Lauren
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<div>Please fill out this form <a href="https://forms.gle/V3opc9FZzThy7WSB8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">if you are an Autistic artist</a> who might like to display and/or sell your visual art or crafts.
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<div>Please fill out this form if you are able <a href="https://forms.gle/yafjs56NSk7YwoY77" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to volunteer or host an activity or donate</a> or lend items to our event.
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Barbara Dale

Laurel E Adams

Julie Simon

Samantha Grunes

Anonymous

Melanie Conroy

Cora Jeyadame

Steven Gittlin

Alex Beth

Scott Lipcon

Nicholas Lipcon

Ellen Small

Sara Schapiro

Lynne Lipcon

Todd Lipcon

Andrew Dale

Support Newton's First Autistic Pride Day

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