Any Asperger activists???

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Hello,

Just how are non-profits such as United Cerebral Palsy (UPC), and 'TheARC' to name a few of many agencies advocating for developmental disabilities; increasingly reassessing services to better serve clientele with mild developmental disabilities such as Aspergers i.e., clientele with "least restrictions to independence?"

Is anybody here at Wrongplanet.net involved aware of non-profit service providers receiving funds from state developmental service agencies?

If so,boost an "activism of sorts" by encouraging more, and more people concerned with non-profits, state govt. agencies, and the High-Functioning Autism spectrum to advocate for services geared towards an increasingly diverse clientele!

One “out-of-the box” approach is to draw parallels to senior citizens in order to better understand the service needs of adults with Aspergers.

With Aspergers involved, the needs of both seniors, and adults who can largely function independently share a lot in common; difficulties with executive functioning.

Trust management services that provide services for senior citizens, who can largely function independently might just provide good examples concerning Aspergers.

Such services are not supported by state developmental service agencies, hence private-pay options must be kept affordable! Private-pay options can be kept affordable; especially if services are sought once, or twice a year.

Is anybody here at wrongplanet.net aware of trust management services (if to assist elder parents)?
If so, ask (and encourage) a trust management service to provide services to adults with Aspergers!

Specific support services involve the presence of "third party" advisors involving major financial transactions, as well as some health and medical issues, purchasing a vehicle, understanding, and filling-out paperwork, and property transactions e.g., rental issues.

In a complex world, it's sometimes necessary to enlist trusted advisors to navigate those tricky agendas, as well as providing follow-up support services.

An important part of WrongPlanet’s purpose is to encourage that "activism of sorts." To even encourage us to show-up, and interact face-to-face, a challenge for many with Aspergers; a healthy challenge, especially after posting, and reading online becomes an increasingly tiring exercise in semantic gymnastics.

Thank-you

I personally consider myself an autism activist, and I do everything I can within my means here in the UK to help autistic causes (including regular donations etc to the NAS).

However, part of the problem is many autistics themselves hold very hypocritical views that don't help the very cause they believe they are fighting for. And autism being hijacked by feminists/activists of any and every kind as yet another platform to complain about whatever is on their mind that day.

There's a difference between improvement in services etc for autistics, and acting like a spoilt little child every time we don't get what we want, exactly when we want it.


I often try to debate these issues on this very forum, but most of the time it's like kicking a wall.



I'm very much all for activism for autistic causes. Assuming that's actually what's taking place.

Another thing (the topic is important to me):

'Activism' has become synonymous with going on a march.

Activism can assume a number of forms.

Assuming I wanted universities to 'raise awareness to autism'. Bursting into a lecture with friends dressed as stim toys isn't exactly going to develop any long-term relationship. If anything, I'd come across as a bit of a twat.

Better would be maintaining courtesy & respect - which go a very long way. Sending emails etc/arranging meets to explain aims etc is a good approach, and allows a common ground to be found.

..And for that, we need people who understand the administrative process, and can actually communicate well with others. This means most of us autistics are out of the equation, given we'd likely sit staring at the floor talking about our special interest.

Hence we should remain respectful to NT's (NB they are not some sort of enemy).


Dressing up as a vagina and commenting on how good it would be to see the National Autistic Society headquarters bombed certainly isn't good form. If I worked at the NAS, I wouldn't want to talk to anyone of that ilk - regardless of any issue of theirs having merit or otherwise.

First rule of being an autism activist, don't trust Autism Speaks.

Second rule, don't force your views into other people. If they are doing something wrong, try to make them aware of their mistake without being too harsh.

I wish you luck! I've also been looking into Australian "societies" for autism and other neurological conditions recently. They seem to be trustworthy, too bad they're so far away. I'm so devo (Australian slang for devastated).

Hello,

Our own personal experiences can encourage us to that "activism of sorts!"

Personally, the experience of struggling with the CA state's services for developmental disabilities proves confounding.

Once more, as the following discussion thread shows, CA might just have that "open window of opportunity" to be "ahead of the curve" in providing services appropriate for Aspergers. Yet, it appears our allies concerned with 'High Functioning Autism' (HFA) are "asleep at the wheel!"

The 'In-Depth Adult Life Discussion' Forum Any CA Regional Center Experiences?
viewtopic.php?t=336530

ASPEN
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
Autistic Women's Network

Not so long ago on another forum i argued that a movement is needed to defend social anxiety and mental health sufferers. I am still supportive of the idea and intend to post blogs on the subject from time to time.

There are Autistic Self-Advocacy Network chapters all over the US and even in Canada and Australia, and as far as I can tell it's completely run by autistics. It is all about neurodiversity and equality for us.

My experience with ASAN 'Autistic Self-Advocacy Network' was disappointing; that is ASAN doesn't seem receptive towards enlisting outside advisors e.g., in an ever complex world, even NeuroTypicals (NTs) consult with trusted professional advisors; hence the Asperger community needs access to the same options as NTs!

Agencies like UCP (United Cerebral Palsy), TheARC, and AANE www.aane.org may be very receptive towards both self-advocacy, and helpful advisors as needed!

In the 'Similar Topics' box at the bottom of this page, three other topic threads (with clickable links) mention the overlooked need for Asperger activists. The threads:

* ASPERGER'S ACTIVISTS.

* Any Activists on this site?

* Aspie Activists?

Thank-you

I think the most important thing we can do is to curry understanding between NTs and Aspies.

We both think differently, that is for sure. We need to realize that the things we intend translate strangely to NTs. We need to encourage everyone to listen to each other. For NTs, it's to learn that aspie characteristics do not necessarily mean deceit, shyness, or disinterest/self-absorption, and for Aspies, we need to take the high road and be extra patient with NTs that may mean well but do things that are incorrect and potentially offensive.

We may be on the Wrong Planet, but gosh-darn it, this is our planet! ALL of ours, NT and Aspie alike.

The issue I see as most important is that the self being advocated for in self advocacy is most often defined as a "consumer of services". This definition is part of who spectrum people can be, but there is a lot more. We are not just consumers of services. We experience the world in unique ways and the neuro typical culture defines/imposes that daily experience for/on us. The neoro norm impositions on our authentic selves can be exhausting and harmful if we are not fully aware of our authentic selves. We need to learn to say to the neuro norm culture things like, "The experience of the movie line sucks for me. It's too slow, to smelly, too loud and I have to run out of the building because it is so bad." And then add, "It's not my problem, it's yours, if you want my ticket money, fix it". We also need to say to neuro norm scientists that it would be both cruel and a waste off money to force babies under 6 months old into excessive eye contact in the name of a cure.

The neuro norm world is often toxic for spectrum people. It has been for me. For example, I am very sensitive to light, sounds, spatial relationships and other environmental issues. This has been a great gift in my work of designing and building buildings, but also a great difficulty when I have to spend time in buildings or rooms that are an overload of invasive stimulations. My own journey of understanding into my unique self has been to take my uniqueness and apply it well in my life, and also to defend against how my uniqueness harms me in some circumstances.

self advocacy means teaching people how to discover, understand and then advocate for their unique self. Spectrum people need to know more about how to assert and defend their unique selves and their unique needs, but first there needs to be a better and more available process for each person to know and value who they really are and what a great contribution their aspect of diversity is.

This is a very important topic. We all need to be activists on some level. Too often this gets channeled almost exclusively into a form of self advocacy focused on advocating for services. Of equal or greater importance is advocacy for accommodations from the NT social structure that will allow AS people to be more authentic and conserve their valuable energy that is wasted compensating for oppressive NT social environments. Schools, court houses, public and commercial buildings have accommodations for physically disabled people but almost none for AS people with different and often disabling environmental sensibilities.