Family History:
Scope and Contents
Arrangement of Materials:
Conditions Governing Access:
Conditions Governing Use:
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation:
Processing Information:
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Harvey and Connie Lapin Collection
Creator:
Lapin, Harvey and Connie
Identifier/Call Number: SC.HCL
Extent:
10.58 linear feet
Extent:
13.3 Gigabytes
Date (inclusive): 1969-2006
Abstract: Harvey and Connie Lapin's son Shawn was
diagnosed with severe autism as a child. In the 1970s, they became activists in advocating
for autistic children and adults, and Shawn became national poster child for the National
Society for Autistic Children shortly after. The
Harvey and Connie
Lapin Collection
documents the couple's advocacy work with various agencies
beginning in 1971 and continuing through the 2000s. The collection consists primarily of
manuscript materials, scrapbooks, audio visual materials, and photographs.
Language of Material: English,
Spanish; Castilian
Family History:
Harvey and Connie Lapin, residents of Northridge California, have three children, including
an autistic son, Shawn Lapin. Shawn became the national poster child for the National
Society for Autistic Children in 1973, at age 5. Over several decades they have founded or
worked with various organizations promoting awareness and advocacy for the people and
families affected by autism.
Harvey Lapin, a dentist, began serving on the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of
Los Angeles (ASLA) in 1971. He became President of the Autism Society of America (formerly
known as the National Society for Autistic Children) in 1976, and visited the White House
for President Carter's signing of the Mental Health Proclamation. Lapin was the founder and
organizer of the Save Autistic Children Telethon from 1977-1984. He served as President of
the Board of Directors for ASLA from 1989-1992. He was one of the major founding fathers of
Jay Nolan Community Services, and was elected President of its Board of Directors from
1990-1992. Dr. Lapin has been an active member of the Association for Persons with Severe
Handicaps, along with the American, California, and San Fernando Valley Dental Societies. He
has promoted disability awareness in lectures and publications that have included
appearances on national television and lectures at international conferences, and has
authored and published several articles. His special interest lies in providing
entrepreneurial advancement for adults with autism. In 2013 he initiated passage of
California's first self-determination law for the developmentally disabled, the first of its
kind in the country (SB 468.)
Connie Lapin, a speech pathologist, has been a member of the Board of Directors of ASLA
since 1971. She has served as Chairperson of the ASLA's Legislative Committee during her
entire tenure. Additionally, she was past Chairperson of the Honig Advisory Committee on
Special Education; Chairperson of the Stallone Fund for Autism Research; Secretary and Board
member of the North Los Angeles County Regional Center for Developmental Disabilities;
Chairperson for Protection and Advocacy; a member of the Association for Persons with Severe
Handicaps; and a member of the National Advisory Board of Research and Training Center of
Non-aversive Behavior Management for the University of Oregon.
Since 1971, Connie Lapin has been an international lecturer and advocate for persons with
developmental disabilities, testifying and lecturing before government bodies, colleges, and
conferences. She has provided consultation to, and appeared on, numerous national and
television shows. She was honored at the White House by President Ronald Reagan on the 10th
anniversary of the passage of the right to education (PL 94-142), and has received awards
from the National Society for Autistic Children, the North Los Angeles County Regional
Center, the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, the National Society for Autistic
Children & Adults, and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.
During the Lapin's tenure with the ASLA, the organization joined five other groups in
filing a lawsuit that would challenge California's conscious and chronic underfunding of its
community care system in favor of institutions. The lawsuit was filed under federal
anti-discrimination laws and Tittle XIX of the Federal Social Security Act.
Scope and Contents
The
Harvey and Connie Lapin Collection primarily documents the
couple's promotion of autism awareness. The collection reflects the Lapin's advocacy of
persons with autism through their involvement in various organizations, participation in
legal action attempting to improve conditions for those with autism, and various fundraising
endeavors, especially in California, and dates from 1969-2006. The collection consists of
five series:
Sanchez v. Johnson (1997-2005),
Activism (1969-2006),
Photographic Material
(1977-1999),
Scrapbooks (1977-1987), and
Audio Visual Material (1977-1996).
Series I,
Sanchez v. Johnson, documents a legal case that the
Autism Society of Los Angeles (ASLA) filed with five other organizations and six individual
plaintiffs against the Department of Disability Services in California. It consists of legal
documents of various types such as motions, judgments, and testimony, and also includes
correspondence between all parties involved such as the plaintiff's attorneys from the
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia to the Lapins, and correspondence between the
Lapins, ASLA and their supporters. Press materials regarding the status of the case and its
outcome are also included. The series dates from 1997- 2005, and is filed
alphabetically.
Series II,
Activism, documents the history of ASLA and includes
general information regarding Autism itself. It includes newsletters from the organization,
articles from newspapers and magazines regarding Autism, and promotional materials from the
ASLA. This series dates from 1969-2006, and is filed alphabetically.
Series III,
Photographic Material, contains a variety of
photographic prints, negatives, and transparencies from various events and activities the
Lapins and ASLA were involved in. ASLA auctions, fashion shows, and telethons are included,
as well as jogathons, picnics, and conferences. This series dates from 1977-1999, and is
filed alphabetically.
Series IV,
Scrapbooks, consists of eight scrapbooks containing
memorabilia from the Lapin's involvement in various organizations and events that they have
been associated with, and are made up of clippings and other materials that relate to autism
and activism. Subjects include telethons, jogathons, fashion shows, and the Jay Nolan
Center. The series dates from 1977-1987, and is organized chronologically.
Series V,
Audio Visual Material, consists of recordings of
telethons that Harvey Lapin organized and public service announcements regarding autism.
Members of ASLA are featured in the short film, "Bobby." "Autism in the Classroom" features
the Autism Society of America's 1985 Teacher of the Year. Some of the public service
announcements were produced by ASLA and have narration by Sylvester Stallone, father of an
autistic son. The series dates from 1977-1996 and is arranged alphabetically by title.
Arrangement of Materials:
Series I: Sanchez v. Johnson, 1997-2005
Series II: Activism, 1969-2005
Series III: Photographic Material, 1977-1999
Series IV: Scrapbooks, 1977-1987
Series V: Audio Visual Material, 1977-1996
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Harvey and Connie Lapin, 01/06/2013.
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Sylvia Fischer (Intern), 2014
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Audiovisual materials