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Ari Ne'eman is the Founding President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, where he initiates and directs efforts to increase the representation of autistic individuals in public policy discussions.   He is an adult on the autism spectrum and a leading advocate in the neurodiversity movement, frequently briefing policymakers and speaking publicly on disability and autism policy issues. Appointed by Governor Jon Corzine, he served as Vice Chair of the New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force, where he represented autistic adults in reviewing the state’s autism services. He also previously served on the New Jersey Special Education Review Commission, where he authored a minority report on the topic of aversives, restraint and seclusion. He previously served as the Policy Workgroup Leader for the Youth Advisory Council to the National Council on Disability.

Ari is a board member of TASH and the Autism National Committee. In 2008, he served as the first ever Patricia Morrissey Disability Policy Fellow at the Institute for Educational Leadership. That year, he also received the HSC Foundation “Advocates in Disability” Award, and in 2009, he received the Expanding Horizons Award from United Cerebral Palsy and the New Jersey Association of Community Provider's Advocacy Award. He studied political science in the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and graduated in May 2010.

Ari's nomination by US President Barack Obama to serve on the National Council on Disability was confirmed by the US Senate on June 22, 2010.  Ari is the youngest person, and first individual on the autism spectrum to be appointed to a post by a US President.