Austism group is Australia excludes members with autism from its steering committee

From AspieWeb:

In Australia, the Autism Asperger Advocacy Australia (A4) steering committee has locked out all members diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorders.

According to a notice sent by the Australian ASAN Chapter, they were notified by their members May 20 that they have removed a dissenting minority on the A4 steering committee - which includes oddly enough every autistic person on the committee.

Here's the statement from ASAN Australia:

STATEMENT CONCERNING A4 – AUTISM ASPERGER ADVOCACY AUSTRALIA

ASAN AUSTRALIA understands from its members that as of today all Autistic members have been exclude from the Steering Committee of A4 (Autism Asperger Advocacy Australia) which has now been renamed the A4 Advisory Group. Convener of the A4 Advisory Group Bob Buckley states in an email to all A4 members:

“A majority group decided to separate itself from a minority dissenting group (formerly in A4 SC) who do not accept and object to long-standing polices and practices of the A4 SC.”

This minority dissenting group just happens to contain all of the people with a diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder that sat on the A4 Steering Committee up until 18/5/09. This minority group has long been battling to be part of the national voice that is A4 and now finds themselves excluded from the very group that once claimed to represent them.

ASAN AUSTRALIA finds this situation unacceptable, reprehensible in fact. We suggest that in light of this move A4 not be seen as a legitimate voice for those on the autism spectrum who can speak for themselves.