suntAutist has worked since 2021 to amplify the voices of autistic people, fight stigma, and promote a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. It is currently the only autistic-led NGO in Romania.
Interview by Els Van Beneden
Edited by Maya Parson
Tell us about suntAutist.
Maria Ivănescu, former President Elect suntAutist: The full name of our organization is suntAutist – Autismul explicat de autiști “I am autistic – Autism explained by autistics.”
Our mission is to bring autistic voices to the forefront of public debate in a country where autism is still widely misunderstood and medicalised.
—Maria Ivănescu
suntAutist
We are inspired by autistic-led organisations worldwide that promote neurodiversity and human rights, such as ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) and EUCAP because they demonstrate the power of self-advocacy and the principle, “Nothing about us, without us”.
suntAutist is guided by the paradigm of neurodiversity. We see autism as a neurotype, not a disorder. Our activities are aligned with the UN CRPD, emphasizing autonomy, non-discrimination, and full social inclusion. We believe that our presence in EUCAP is important not only for us, but also for building a bridge between the Romanian autistic community and the wider European movement.
Do you have a specific target group?
Our association is open to all autistic people, regardless of age or support needs. But we focus especially on autistic adults, as they are often underrepresented and underserved in Romania. We also strongly include and support non-verbal autistics and those with higher support needs, challenging infantilisation and pathologisation.
What are some of the achievements you are most proud of?
We are proud of creating the largest autistic-led online community in Romania through our Facebook group “Autismul explicat de autiști – suntAutist,” launching our website www.suntautist.ro, a unique platform where autistic people publish articles, resources, and translations, bringing autistic voices into Romanian public debates (for example by condemning the use of “autist” as a political insult and challenging national media campaigns that used stigmatizing language), and building a volunteer-based structure with multiple working groups, which demonstrates strong community engagement and self-organisation.
Many autistic people in Romania have told us that suntAutist is the first space where they felt understood and safe to share their experiences openly.
Our online support group has reduced isolation and created peer-to-peer solidarity.
By publishing autistic-written articles and translations, we have increased the visibility of lived experience in Romania, a space traditionally dominated by non-autistic “experts.”
How is your organisation active in policy at regional, national, and international levels?
We are active mainly at the national level by challenging harmful narratives in media and politics, advocating against ABA, and promoting neurodiversity as a framework for policy and practice. At the regional and international level, we connect with other autistic-led initiatives and networks (EUCAP).
We have not yet achieved direct policy change, but we have actively tried. For example, we attempted to influence the policy of a national government institution, though without success so far. Even so, we remain committed to continuing advocacy and making autistic voices heard in policymaking.
What difficulties or challenges does your organisation face in Romania?
We face significant systemic gaps: autistic adults are almost invisible in policy and services, most supports stop at age 18, and there are very few alternatives to ABA therapy. Many autistic children are still excluded from education, and rural areas lack access to specialists.
Until very recently, autism was only formally recognised as a childhood condition, which meant adults could lose their disability status. There is no coherent national autism strategy, and most doctors recommend ABA.
Stigma in Romania remains very strong. “Autist” is widely used as an insult, and autism is often portrayed as a disease (“caused by vaccines”) to be “recovered” from. Misunderstandings in schools and workplaces lead to exclusion.
Financially, we rely almost entirely on donations and volunteer work. There is no structural funding for autistic-led organisations, and access to grants is very limited.
How does participation in EUCAP contribute to your mission?
Participation in EUCAP strengthens our mission by connecting us with other autistic-led organisations across Europe. It provides visibility, legitimacy, and a platform for mutual support and knowledge exchange. This helps us amplify autistic voices in Romania and align local advocacy with broader European efforts.
We see EUCAP as an essential space for exchange and support, and we are eager to start joint campaigns, share resources, and participate in common advocacy efforts.
We are eager to learn from and collaborate with other autistic-led organisations. We hope to develop joint campaigns with other EUCAP members, especially around autistic adult rights and the fight against harmful therapies like ABA. We would also like to contribute to shared advocacy reports that influence European and national policy and exchange training and resources on autistic-led peer support, online community management, and conference organisation.
What are the main goals or projects for the coming years?
Our main goals are: 1) to expand the visibility of autistic-led perspectives in Romania through articles, translations, and media presence, 2) strengthen our online support group and develop new forms of peer support, advocate for recognition and services for autistic adults, who remain almost invisible in Romanian policy, 3) build collaborations with universities, policymakers, and other organisations to create systemic change, and 4) secure more sustainable funding to support our community projects and campaigns.
We are preparing a wide range of initiatives, including expanding our social media presence, starting a regular email newsletter, the maintenance and expansion of our database of trusted professionals who work with neurodivergent people, developing a Corporate Guide to educate companies on autistic inclusion, and organising local social meetups IRL (in real life) for neurodivergent people.
Are there any best practices you would like to share with other organisations?
When it comes to fundraising, one lesson from our experience is that authentic storytelling and lived-experience advocacy resonate strongly with the public. Fundraising messages centred on dignity, acceptance, and inclusion tend to attract sustainable support.
Being autistic-led and neurodiversity-affirming in all projects, recognising self- diagnosis as valid, which broadens inclusion, maintaining horizontal, consensus-based decision-making that respects autistic communication styles, and developing multiple volunteer-driven projects with flexibility and autonomy.
Thank you, Maria and suntAutist!
suntAutist at a glance
Country: Romania
Year established: 2021
Staff: Six elected board members and 15 active volunteers
Target group: All autistic people with special focus on adults
Core values: Autonomy, non-discrimination, full social inclusion, “Nothing about us, without us”
Communication: website, social media channels, online support group
Funding: project-based funding or one-time donations
Previous EUCAP Member Interviews
Viera Hincová – A-Centrum Slovakia
Kabie Brook – ARGH Scotland
Carmen Molina – CEPAMA Spain
