Want to make a difference? Aspies can't, apparently

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We need to claim our right to full participation in the political proceses under Article 29 of the United Nations Conventionon the Rights of Persons with Disabilites which states:

"Article 29 - Participation in political and public life
States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall undertake to:

a.Ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected, inter alia, by:
i.Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use;
ii.Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation, and to stand for elections, to effectively hold office and perform all public functions at all levels of government, facilitating the use of assistive and new technologies where appropriate;
iii.Guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with disabilities as electors and to this end, where necessary, at their request, allowing assistance in voting by a person of their own choice;
b.Promote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs, including:
i.Participation in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country, and in the activities and administration of political parties;
ii.Forming and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at international, national, regional and local levels."

http://www.un.org/disabilities/conventi ... full.shtml

No disability should stop you from taking part in politics if that's what you want to do. So go for it.

Hi grahamguitarman
You seem dismayed by some disadvantages. There are plenty of openings for people to make a difference - you don't just have to be a candidate or spokesperson but you could also be involved in lobbying, writing, filming or managing someone else's campaign.

Sorry. I know it's possible to make a difference without being a politician or leader.

HiGreeny
Is there any such thing as a Convention/Declaration of the rights of Austistic/Neurodiverse individuals? This would appear to be a valuable starting point - a list of demands to guide and motivate a movement aimed at enhancing our rights and social standing.

We have exactly the same rights as any other person, nothing more or less, before any special accommodations are considered for impairments at an individual level.

Hi Neilson
yes this is true that we should have the same rights as others + accommodation of individual circumstances.
The kinds of things I am referring to, to give some examples:

I have to pay over $600 as an older adult to get an assessment. There were no assessments available when I was younger as the condition was unknown. I am going for an assessment after a patchy work history which I think was caused by AS so the fee is quite exhorbitant. Unlike all other counselling/psychological/psychiatric services in Australia, the AS assessment fee for adults is not refundable through Australia's health care system and I think this is an anomalie. However it is possible for younger people to access AS assessments at reduced rates or for free.

I also favour some forms of affirmative action to address the overly high unemployment levels faced by people on the spectrum.

Governments should also promote positive images and community awareness as a public campaign.

Hello Eucalyptus, your personal situation regarding employment sounds very similar to mine. I think many of us with AS fall into a grey area and that is very frustrating.

In the UK with a National Health System, AS diagnosis availability varies massively between different areas due to funding levels.

Have you gone through the process yourself? Have you checked to see what support would be available to you before you spend the $600+?

Any affirmative action towards unemployment for AS is a hard subject to find a solution for.

I feel the mindset of discrimination can only be countered by education at an early age, and unfortunately many are still influenced by an innate fear of those who are different. Afraid I don't have an answer here either.

Hi Neilson
no there are no entitlements from Medicare although those who pay very high health insurance premiums for "extras" may get some reimbursement.

I tried to establish a career after having children but I didn't fit in with today's "teamwork" mantra. I ended up becoming self-employed. I am not rich but at least there is no boss or bitchy tea room, I can choose my own hours and wear whatever I want. People respect me for the way I do my job

I understand that. If you go ahead with an evaluation, would there be any support available for you? Would receiving a conformation of AS be just to satisfy your own curiosity?



Again, very similar situation, although I do not have children. I produce very good work but finding new projects, as in customer relations, is far from being my strongest skill. Often I find myself working extremely hard for a time and then scratching my bum for a while with no income. Ideally I would like my work to be a bit more balanced and consistent.

That seems to be the nature of self employment, it's up and down. The best advice I got from a counsellor was "play up your strengths and offset your weaknesses." He said, instead of worrying about whether you've got Aspergers or not, take a good look at what your weaknesses are, then ask, "Well if that's my weakness, what am i going to do about it?"

Sounds like good advice.

Well there are many ways of influencing central government and local authorities, some by becoming a politician, if you can get a group of people as your voting base and fundraisers, or if you are in the UK your supporters.

That apart there is the legitimate route of lobbying your local and parliamentary representatives or going to the higher executive or ministers/leaders and pushing for action that way.

Then there are media campaigns and linking in with autism organizations in your own country.

I chose the lobbying route because I have access and speech difficulties and it is easier to lobby from a keyboard.

Remember the only limitations that there are, are the ones that we impose on ourselves.

I will remember that - "the only limitations we have are the ones we impose on ourselves." This is correct. One of the most chatty women I ever met was partially deaf, wore two hearing aides and had a speech impediment, she was nicknamed "Bubbles" for her bubbly personality

Following on from the discussion about activism here and elsewhere, I've started a thread about the possibility of campaigning for the recognition of people on the autism spectrum as a minority group. Please let me know what you think:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt241907.html

I agree with this, well done! I would appreciate serious discussion to get this off the ground.