About UsAnteaters for Autism is a non-profit organization focused on acceptance, raising awareness, volunteering, and fundraising for individuals with autism. Throughout the academic year we engage in different activities, events, and discussions to fulfill our focus. Our organization hopes to educate our UCI community and Orange County, and do our part in improving the community climate for people of all ability levels.
To the left is a picture of our club members, having fun in the Pumpkin Patch in 2017; learn more about the board here. |
Why Join?
Service
In addition to learning about Autism, members will be given the opportunity to research, volunteer, intern, and more for the autism community at UCI and in Orange County. It is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills to prepare you for any career opportunities you may pursue.
Fellowship
Anteaters for Autism is a place to interact with other club members who are interested in helping the autism community and to build long-lasting friends. We like to consider ourselves a family, and we welcome you in our family. Join us at our general meetings and social events to interact with fellow Anteaters for Autism club members.
In addition to learning about Autism, members will be given the opportunity to research, volunteer, intern, and more for the autism community at UCI and in Orange County. It is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills to prepare you for any career opportunities you may pursue.
Fellowship
Anteaters for Autism is a place to interact with other club members who are interested in helping the autism community and to build long-lasting friends. We like to consider ourselves a family, and we welcome you in our family. Join us at our general meetings and social events to interact with fellow Anteaters for Autism club members.
What is Autism? |
Autism is a spectrum, and every individual with autism has their own unique ability level.
Indeed, individuals with autism may have some or all of the following characteristics:
The above list has been adapted from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, at http://autisticadvocacy.org/home/about-asan/about-autism/ |
Is Autism a disease? |
Autism is NOT a disease:
Interesting Definitions:
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Our Logo |
The Anteaters for Autism logo consists of hands, each with a heart in the middle. The logo is drawn with purple, teal green, and light blue colors, and accompanied by the club's motto: "Different, but not less".
Hands Holding Hearts The hands symbolize our devotion and dedication to reach out and offer our alliance to the autism community, unconditionally. In addition, we will welcome everyone--with open hearts--to join our organization. Multiple Colors The colors, purple, teal green, and light blue, represents and celebrates the diversity within the autism community and our organization. Our Motto The motto, a quote from Temple Grandin, states how the individuals with autism have different talents and gifts, but are not any less valuable or less human than individuals without autism. |
Our Inspiration: Temple Grandin |
Dr. Temple Grandin is a well-known activist for individuals with autism, best-selling author, professor of animal science and much more. Dr. Grandin was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and her parents were recommended to institutionalize her. Her parents ignored the suggestions and instead offered her their unconditional love and support. Dr. Grandin mentions how she began to speak at the age of three and had different methods to communicate her feelings, which were often times considered out of the norm (i.e. screaming, peeping, and humming). With speech therapy, she later learned how to communicate better verbally.
Further, throughout her time in primary education, Temple Grandin details how she was considered by her classmates as "weird" until a teacher and mentor discovered her. This teacher also offered his unconditional support and allowed her to flourish her many talents. Later, she used her talents to become an zoologists, engineer, psychologist, activists, and more. Through her work and collaborations, she has earned honorable mentions and prestigious awards. One of such achievement is her inclusion in Time magazines's Time 100--a list of "the 100 most influential people in the world"--in 2010, under the "Heroes" Category. Just one year later, she was presented with the Double Helix Medal, awarded by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for her contributions to biomedical research. She currently teaches at Colorado State University, as a professor of Animal Science and an autism rights activist. To learn more of her story, visit http://www.templegrandin.com/ |