Aspergers Magazine

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A few weeks ago (please see article on "AS And The Relativity Of Time," which will be written when I find the time. ), an idea struck me. I believe it was the "end result" of a year of research and obsession about AS and the AS community. The idea is to create a magazine by and about people on the spectrum. My online research has uncovered one well-kept secret: Aspies want to speak, not be spoken for.

We do have some books written from the perspective of a handful of autistics that are then generalized to be appropriate to understand ALL AS. We have many bloggers and a few online communities where AS people can share their experiences and offer support. But the only magazines I could find about AS were written FOR "professionals, parents, teachers, care workers" and are "curbbie-dominated" and NT-biased. Now, the most logical reason for this lack of a magizine of our own,is that nobody wants or needs one. Well, I do. I have learned to embrace the computer, but I do think that one form of communication does not have to negate the importance of another form. I think there is room for both. Perhaps it is because I wasn't weaned on code, but I still enjoy the tactile sensation of holding written words in my hands and looking at pictures and writing that isn't glowing. As a writer and "artist," I think my creation becomes more "real" if it is tangible and not lost in the millions of bits of info stored online.

Mission statement/goal:

A magazine designed by, written for and about people on the autism spectrum, but not necessarily about AS.

There would be some articles about traits of AS and co-morbid disorders, but this would only be a part of the magizine, as it is only a "part" of who we are as people with atypical neurology. The majority of the magazine would feature arts, crafts, writing, analytical thought, obsessions, and interests of people on the spectrum. I'm thinking...lots of pictures, comics, humour ramblings, short bios, serial stories, highlights of craft projects, feature "obsession" of the month, reviews of scientific articles, movies, books, music and "computer/science/maths/geek of the week." Think of it as "Highlights for Aspies."

End goal:

I learned something about AS from WP that I didn't realize from just reading about AS in "expert" books and articles about AS. Something I would like to see represented in this magazine. We can be fun and funny. We have a need to create and a desire to be heard and share who we are with others. Sometimes we retreat into our bubbles because we like it in there, sometimes it is because we are overloaded by a "loud" world, sometimes it is because we are exiled there by the rejection and misunderstandings of a world that is "wired" differently. For those who wish to be heard, we will offer a place in the spotlight. I think it's long over due.

How to begin:

We need a web page to offer guildlines on submissions (NT,AS,Self Diagnosed, mutants) and an email account to receive them.

We need volunteers to work in their areas of special interest (Is there such a thing as an accountant/business and marketing Aspie?) All we can offer,right now is something to put on their resume, show their skills, get real world experience. In the begining, everything from the creation to the submissions, would be "volunteer." A handful of people who have already agreed to publishing, editing, and reviewing submissions may or may not receive a salary. If the magazine grows we will be able to offer paying jobs and those who volunteered and showed ability will be the first hired. We will accept assistance from NTs (who have executive skills)...so parents/friends of Aspies, feel free to volunteer your expertise.

The process will be "labor intensive" and most of us have to work "real jobs," making it difficult to balance both a full time job and fulltime magazine production. The price of subscription will barely cover the cost of printing, assuming there is enough interest for people to subscribe. If there is not enough interest in the community, the idea will be aborted.

I have many ideas concerning what kind of content the magazine could have but I need a lot of input from potential subscribers on what they would like to see in the magazine. I would also like to include a detachable mail-in feedback card with each issue where readers can submit their opinions about featured writers/artist who they would like to featured more often. I hope the AS community will find this a valuable resource, both as readers and contributors. It will only be as good as we make it. Let's make it something that will prove we have humor, creativity, analytical ability not in spite of AS, but because of it.

it sounds like a great idea,this is something am would get if it was relateable to.

is it definitely going to be 'aspergers magazine' or will it represent the kanners and atypical autism side to?

what a great idea! i'd like to see sucsess storys of people living independently, driving cars, and being overall sly.

also maybe a few obsessive topics could be highlighted every month, and discussed/

goodluck!

no problem! whens this magazine gonna be up and running? and where do i submit my content?

I think this is a beautiful idea, whether in actual print or online or both. Print being so expensive and labor intensive it might start online. Also, there is a lot of great writing here at the Planet already. Editors might start by asking people for permission to republish some of their submissions here or to address topics they have already addressed in postings. Then you could pose new questions and come up with a range of answers.

Krex I think you have a very solid idea of what and who needs to be included.

an online magazine would be a great idea, and would probably be alot easier to do

Outstanding idea Krex, and as I said before, I herby volunteer my services in whatever way I can that will benefit this happening for real.
Maybe "we" could have a "Travel Section" where people who live all over could tell what they think others will find intresting if they ever leave the house and come visit. If I went to Australia, where would I want to go. ( I bet someone who LIVES there would have a good idea.)
And I agree with richardbenson that online would be easier, but I'd LOVE to have a "paper copy "to leave in all the therapist, and Dr's waiting rooms and other places so that the rest of the world can also share in what we have to offer. And maybe they could learn something at the same time, and not just about the spectrum, hopefully about themselves too!
(OMG I DO still have faith in humanity ! ! )

I've not done much investigation, but "Print on Demand," is starting to get big in the publication industry. I'd wait and see how much interest there is, but online, pdfs to be printed at home, and possibly Print on Demand might be worth investigating. POD in particular can be useful, because you can get reasonable prices and literally specify the number of copies you need to send out, although there may well still be a lower limit, and I've only ever seen it used for books (it's growing in the roleplaying field, for one thing).

The idea for a magazine is a very good one.


One little thing puzzles me:

I think it is a great idea.
Let me know if you need anyone to write for it as I love writing and always had an interest in such things.