Creating a movement! Any Ideas?

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I'm been trying to create a movement/group for a long time now but didn't know where to begin with it. I would also be grateful for any ideas. The group also needs a name? It is basically a movement that stands up and shows the world what we AS people are all about. To show the NT people that we are not stupid as they think we are. Is anyone interested?

No, i'm tired of getting beat up for my good ideas. Make up your own dead poets society.

There's too many movements and not enough movement.

You want to show the world AS people aren't stupid? Go show them. Do something that shows you're not stupid. That's my advice. Make sure you can point to yourself as an example.

I don't think you can start movements, and you certainly can't name them before they exist. They tend to start spontaneously.

Yes, starting up a movement would be a good thing.
If you want ideas about how to do it, then you can contact various organizations which are run by aspies, see how other aspies run their own organizations and get ideas from those other aspies about how to start your own movement.
Some places to start getting ideas from are:
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network: http://autisticadvocacy.org/
Autreat: http://www.autreat.com/
The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership: http://grasp.org/
Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership: http://www.aaspire.org/
Etc.

If you contact the various aspies who run these various organizations, I'm sure they can give you ideas about how to start your own movement.

At the risk of sounding melodramatic: have you no sense of pride?

I donno man I for one don't like getting grouped in with all aspies. Were a part of neuro diversity and are a very diverse group.

After being diagnosed with Asperger's, I wanted my voice heard about my experiences on the autism spectrum. Although I have challenges, like anyone else, I wanted to share the positives autism has given to me---talents and interests.

I began with promoting a music ministry in local and regional churches where I performed solo on a selection of musical instruments. I also spoke of how Asperger's was a gift in my life---while also sharing some of its challenges---as everyone has challenges. I got numerous bookings and was very well received.

I took it on myself to send an email to a world famous musician and pioneer in electronic music about how his music had touched my life. I related how I had autism and that upon hearing his music when I was a child it had promoted a special intense interest in synthesizers that has stuck with me to this day. He was touched by this, and a biographer who was writing a book on him included my email message in the book.

I came in contact with another autism website that has a section devoted to poems. I submitted a couple of poems, and they were accepted.

I decided I wanted more to hear my story of autism in my life. I wanted to share how I tried to maintain a positive outlook on life through the gifts autism had given to me. I wrote up a very well organized and meaningful proposal to speak at one of the annual autism "camps." My proposal suggested how others could also try to look at anything positive in order to guide their lives. I was more or less insulted by the management of this "camp" and told that all that attended that "camp" already maintained positive outlooks and that my message would be useless there. Hmm, then why do they have lecturers that try to teach how to improve their lives in positive thinking? I researched their speakers over the years and found that most were repeat speakers that I perceived to be a part of their inner clique. I am on the outside of that clique, much the same way I was on the outside of most cliques while in school. Many times, in order to be accepted, one must be part of an inner circle.

I then wrote two essays for authors looking to include autistics' stories. One wanted a short story, and the other wanted a life experience. I spent an incredible amount of time writing a short story that was actually quite good if I do say so myself. It was rejected. The essay I submitted for the other author was accepted and is now in print worldwide. I tried to see if the other book had been published and cannot find anything on it.

I expressed to a certain member here about working on promoting positive outlooks on autism. He recommended contacting a chapter of a well-known autism organization that was close to me. He said they needed members to work with them. I contacted them sharing my willingness to volunteer to work with them. They ignored me.

So...here is my track record---4 wins (2 from neurotypical groups; 2 from autistic groups) and 3 losses (all 3 from autistic groups). Actually not too bad, but percentage wise, I have been more accepted for my attempts through neurotypical groups. So...if we were to put together a movement group, there is a chance it might not work...but also a chance it could. That's just life.

The WrongPlanet has been a great place for me to share my experiences and opinions. And for the most part, the WrongPlanet has been very receptive and supportive of me. A movement group could probably be put together by members here. Many of us have ver specific messages we want to tell. Our movement might be much like a variety show---with so many different and varied experiences to share. But, I think that might be what would make it successful---to show what a diverse group of individuals we on the autism spectrum are. We need to show the world that we cannot be stereotyped as behaving in "Rainman" ways. We need to show them our diversity.

That "camp" must have been Autreat.
( http://www.Autreat.com
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autreatinfo/ )
Very few people submit proposals to speak at Autreat every year. The small group of people who speak at Autreat every year get to do so because they are the only people who submit suitable proposals.
I can't know why your proposal was rejected, but I guess it was because of legitimate reasons.
I also submitted a proposal which was rejected by Autreat's organizers. Instead of being offended, I tried to understand why my proposal was not good enough for them. Nowadays, some years later, I do understand why my proposal was not good enough.
It would be good for you to attend Autreat at least once, to experience it, before submitting another proposal to speak there.
(I attended 3 Autreats and enjoyed all of them. I would go to Autreat every year if I lived in the US)

Autreat's organizers are indeed a bit of a clique, but anyone who can contribute towards Autreat's success is welcome by them.
I do, occasionally, have some disagreements with them, but overall I appreciate their hard work, which they voluntarily do throughout the year, for making Autreat happen.

That certain member was me and the chapter was the South-West Ohio chapter of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
I just checked their blog ( http://asansouthwestohio.blogspot.com/ ) and found this:
===
"The ASAN Southwest Ohio chapter is currently inactive. As a result, there will be no further entries to this blog. If/when we have a local group in this area again, it will most likely use Meetup, which many ASAN chapters are now using."
===
Since that chapter became inactive, you obviously received no reply from them.
I guess you could contact ASAN's chapter in Columbus, which hopefully would yield better results:
http://asancentralohio.blogspot.com

A current list of the ASAN's active chapters can be found here:
http://autisticadvocacy.org/chapters/

Thank you Ken for explaining. I'm sorry to hear the chapter closed, that would explain the lack of response. I'm sorry to hear your Autreat proposal was rejected too. Maybe they want a person to attend first---in my case. If so, it would be good of them to say that it is a prerequisite. I know their intentions are good, but it doesn't appeal to me to attend anymore.

First, start with the goal of the movement; then work your way backwards.


Yes, but coming up with a name for the group should not be the main goal of the group


To say, "We are human too" is a noble goal. Now, how to go about doing it?


To gain interest, one must first be interesting. Autscape is a noble experiment, but it is (apparently) not interesting enough to attract people that can (1) motivate and guide others to achieving their personal goals; and (2) provide a forum for people to present interesting content of their own.

No, I'm not trying to slam anyone else's efforts. I am trying to give a suggestion, which is "Be Interesting". What interests the aggregate Aspie? What interests the people around them? Determining the interests of your target audience is called "Market Research". Letting them know that you have what they want is called "Advertisement". Providing it is part of both "Production" and "Sales".

Attending first is not a prerequisite.
Attending first acquaints you with the people who usually attend Autreat, with the sort of presentations which are usually given at Autreat, and with the atmosphere at Autreat.
Becoming acquainted with these things helps you know what kinds of presentations are suitable for Autreat.

[quote] Creating a movement! Any Ideas? {/quote]
just eat of the local fare without discrimination, and within 2-14 days you will be ready to produce an eager movement.

I agree. First comes a generalised opinion held by a number of people, then someone provides mediums (TV, internet, radio etc) for those people to share their opinions and movements form spontaneously. Then a strong leader may emerge who can focus the movement into a dynamic force.

I have plenty of pride, in what I stand for and what I do, personally. And that has little to do with what I am of which I have no choice.

I wouldn't join a "Human Pride, or "Male Pride," or an "Aspie Pride" movement. What is there to be proud of in any of them? They are what I am, and I had nothing to do with it.

I have enough pride in the fact that I don't let what anyone thinks about what I am bother me to begin with. I don't need to belong to a movement for that.

You know this kind of thing is brought up with extreme regularity, and it never takes off. I think the reason it doesn't is pretty simple.

Aspies in general tend to dislike herd mentality. We are far too individualistic, and tend to disagree on too much to make any movement work for all of us. I for one, think that is one of the real beauties of Asperger Syndrome.

We make the best sticks in the mud ever!

Also I doubt the Neurotypicals will listen. Sensory issues make protesting really hard.

I just voted "no" after giving this serious thought. There are just too many conflicting opinions on many things associated with movements for me to think it could work with me. Perhaps I am being too negative about this right now. But that's just how I feel. I tend to stay to myself a lot and dislike group involvement.