Kevin Healey (autism activist): Difference between revisions

'''Kevin Healey''' (born 27 May 1974{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}) is an autism activist. He also campaigns against bullying.

In 2001, Healey founded the North Staffordshire Asperger's & Autism Association (NSAAA).<ref name=sentinel-2015>{{cite news|last1=Ault|first1=Richard|title=Autism campaigner Kevin Healey: 'Hate crimes aren't taken seriously enough'|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Autism-campaigner-Kevin-Healey-Hate-crimes-aren-t/story-26656709-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715120856/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Autism-campaigner-Kevin-Healey-Hate-crimes-aren-t/story-26656709-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 July 2015|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]|date=8 June 2015}}</ref> In 2007, Healey founded the Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society (SAAS), which provides support to adults with autism including activities such as outings as well as educational programs and a helpline.<ref name=sentinel-2012>{{cite news|title=Group reaches out to adults who are living with autism|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Group-reaches-adults-living-autism/story-16574184-detail/story.html|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=The Sentinel|date=21 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032001/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Group-reaches-adults-living-autism/story-16574184-detail/story.html|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=bbc-2010-film/> In 2010, he launched a campaign entitled "It's Time For Change — Stand-up For Autism" which aimed to improve government response to the needs of people with autism and their families in the UK. This campaign attracted support from both members of Parliament and the public, and Healey delivered a petition to the Prime Minister's office signed by 4,000 people in favour of such expanded services and funding.<ref name=bbc-2010-petition>{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Adam|title=Staffordshire autism campaign to meet PM in London|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9070000/9070387.stm|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=BBC News|date=7 October 2010}}</ref> He was also a trustee for the [[National Autistic Society]], which is the largest autism charity in the UK, until he stood down from the role in 2016.<ref name=nas-board>{{cite web|title=Board of Trustees|url=http://www.autism.org.uk/news-and-events/about-the-nas/who-we-are/structure/board-of-trustees.aspx|website=Autism.org|publisher=[[National Autistic Society]]|accessdate=6 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021444/http://www.autism.org.uk/news-and-events/about-the-nas/who-we-are/structure/board-of-trustees.aspx|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=indep-2015>{{cite news|last1=Grant|first1=Katie|title=Twitter 'failing in its moral duty' to protect users from abuse, says leading autism campaigner|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/twitter-failing-in-its-moral-duty-to-protect-users-from-abuse-says-leading-autism-campaigner-10060668.html|accessdate=16 November 2015|work=[[The Independent]]|date=20 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite [web |url=https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/media-centre/news/2016-08-10-kevin-healey.aspx] |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=www.autism.org.uk}}</ref>

Healey published an autobiography, ''Twin Brothers Worlds Apart'', in 2009, sales of which benefit SAAS, his autism charity.<ref name=bbc-2010-film>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Robert|title=Autism campaigner Kevin Healey seeks to make film|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8585000/8585639.stm|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=24 March 2010}}</ref> This book has been adapted for a short film that was released under the same title in 2017, which was directed by Andrew Dobosz.<ref>{{cite web|title=Autism awareness film gets the red carpet treatment|url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/2017-03-27/autism-awareness-film-gets-the-red-carpet-treatment/|website=ITV Central News|accessdate=23 June 2017}}</ref> In 2014, he released a short documentary about cyber-bullying.<ref name=itv-2014>{{cite news|title=Cyber bullying highlighted in new film|url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-01-22/cyber-bullying-highlighted-in-new-film/|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=[[itv.com]]|date=22 January 2014}}</ref> He hosted his own show on [[Blog Talk Radio]] but stopped broadcasting in 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kevinhealeyautism |title=Kevin Healey Autism Show Online Radio |publisher=BlogTalkRadio |date= 22 February 2011|accessdate=3 November 2015}}</ref> and he also founded internet-based Autism Radio UK.<ref name=bbc-2010-petition/><ref name=nantwich2012>{{cite news|title=Autism campaigner to carry Olympic Torch in Crewe|url=http://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2012/05/24/autism-campaigner-to-carry-olympic-torch-in-crewe/|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=The Nantwich News|date=24 May 2012}}</ref>

Healey initiated a global anti-bullying campaign in 2014, which is supported by [[Ricky Gervais]], [[Katie Price]], and [[Keith Duffy]].<ref name=taa-2013>{{cite web|title=Autism and bullying with Kevin Healey|url=http://www.talkaboutautism.org.uk/page/liveevents/kevin_healey.cfm|website=Talk About Autism|accessdate=6 November 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206164655/http://www.talkaboutautism.org.uk/page/liveevents/kevin_healey.cfm|archivedate=6 February 2015|date=14 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite webnews|title=Q & A: Autism and bullying with Kevin Healey, author and autism campaigner|url=https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/talk-to-others/2015-04-09/our-next-online-q-a-autism-and-bullying-with-kevin-healey-author-and|website=Ambitious About Autism|date=31 July 2013 |accessdate=23 November 2015|}}</ref> Healey has been the victim of cyberbullying and harassment on Twitter due to his activism.<ref name=adn-2013>{{cite news|last1=Worgan|first1=Jo|title=Kevin Healey Leading Autism Campaigner Launches Online Petition for Twitter Verification|url=http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/kevin-healey-leading-autism-campaigner-launches-online-petition-for-twitter-verification/5936/joworgan/|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=Autism Daily Newscast|date=31 December 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418092135/http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/kevin-healey-leading-autism-campaigner-launches-online-petition-for-twitter-verification/5936/joworgan/|archivedate=18 April 2015}}</ref> This bullying included not only online harassment and cloning (impersonation) of his Twitter account,<ref name=indep-2015/> but also threats to "sever [his] legs"<ref name=sentinel-2015/> or kill him. Taking into consideration the information that some of those bullying him had learned what neighbourhood he lived in, Healey found those threats credible enough that he did not leave his home for three months.<ref name=sentinel-2015/> Police investigated both the threats and over a dozen cases of impersonation.<ref name=indep-2015/> Healey's experiences motivated him to raise awareness about cyberbullying and online harassment of those with autism.<ref name=adn-2014>{{cite news|last1=Worgan|first1=Jo|title=Kevin Healey and his Anti Bullying Autism Campaign|url=http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/kevin-healey-and-his-anti-bullying-autism-campaign/6427/joworgan/|accessdate=6 November 2015|work=Autism Daily Newscast|date=18 January 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206044156/http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/kevin-healey-and-his-anti-bullying-autism-campaign/6427/joworgan/|archivedate=6 February 2015}}</ref> He advocates for making the bullying of a person with a developmental disability a crime.<ref name=sentinel-2015/><ref name=sentinel-2014>{{cite news|last1=Chow|first1=Michelle|title=Autism sufferer Kevin Healey appears on Sky News to talk about cyber bullying|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Autism-sufferer-Kevin-Healey-appears-Sky-News/story-20479923-detail/story.html|accessdate=16 November 2015|work=The Sentinel|date=22 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite webnews|title=Internet trolls targeted with new legal guidelines|work=BBC News |date=10 October 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37601431|website=BBC|accessdate=29 June 2017}}</ref>

[[Category:PeopleEnglish onpeople thewith autism spectrumdisabilities]]