Kevin Healey (autism activist)
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
| Kevin Healey | |
|---|---|
| File:Kevincropped.jpg | |
| Born | May 27, 1974 Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England |
| Website | Official website |
Kevin Healey is an autism activist. He also campaigns against bullying.
Contents
Autism activism
In 2001, Healey founded the North Staffordshire Asperger's & Autism Association (NSAAA).[1] 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.[2][3] 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.[4] He is also an ambassador, as well as a director and trustee, for the National Autistic Society, which is the largest autism charity in the UK.[5][6][7]
Healey published an autobiography, Twin Brothers Worlds Apart, in 2009, sales of which benefit SAAS, his autism charitiy.[3] In 2014, he released a short documentary about cyber-bullying.[8] He hosts his own show on Blog Talk Radio,[9] and he also founded internet-based Autism Radio UK.[4][10] In 2015, following controversial comments by Katie Hopkins, Healey set up an online petition signed by thousands of people calling for the former Big Brother star to apologise for her remarks mocking people with autism.[11][12]
Anti-bullying campaign
Healey initiated a global anti-bullying campaign in 2014, which is supported by Ricky Gervais, Katie Price, and Keith Duffy.[6][13][14] Healey has been the victim of cyberbullying and harassment on Twitter due to his activism.[15] This bullying included not only online harassment and cloning (impersonation) of his Twitter account,[7] but also threats to "sever [his] legs"[1] 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.[1][6] Police investigated both the threats and over a dozen cases of impersonation.[7] Healey's experiences motivated him to raise awareness about cyberbullying and online harassment of those with autism.[16][17] He advocates for making the bullying of a person with a developmental disability a crime.[1][17]
Recognition
Healey has won awards including Stoke-On-Trent Citizen of the Year in 2006 and Charity Champion of the year in 2007.[6] He was selected to carry the Olympic torch in Crewe on May 31, 2012.[10] A charity Healey founded, Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society (SAAS), received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2012.[2] On 22 January 2014, Healey made an appearance on Sky News, speaking about cyber-bullying and his international campaign to make bullying a crime.[17]
Personal life
He has a twin brother, Shaun, who also has autism, but is non-verbal.[3][10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
