56 Aspies

sorry, I hit enter button for paragraphs and it posts. Soo , I think it is sad that it didn't get traction. Perhaps a campaign like 56 men needs to be led by autistic people who are comfortable 'coming out'. This might be one of the problems. If you don't mind me saying, I think autistic people need a campaign that normalises us, showing all those adults that led successful lives and succeeded professionally, formed families, raised children while being autistic. Not focussing on problems, because it perpetuates the myths and perception of defectiveness. Instead it would help to show various facets of success of autistic people, their strengths. A campaign busting 56 myth as it were. For example busting the myth about lack of empathy, showing people in jobs, showing the strengths, being successful, showing couples in successful relationships, showing children doing well after correct SEN provisions were made. A lot of press coverage focuses on lack of services and insufficient budgets, creating the perception that autism is an expensive problem on the side of society, not part of it. I think in parallel to this there should be loud message that autistic people are full part of society, always have been, they have a contribution to make, are essential productive part of civilisation, of human diversity.

I agree.  It's why I'm baffled that the best my ex-employers at the autism charity can come up with to 'promote' World Autism Awareness Week is a cheap stunt - getting staff to go to work with wacky hairstyles.  Great!  Just the thing to get that understanding out there.

mistyped.

It can be very disheartening to get no response, but this is not a reason to not try.

It is only by whipping up support that our campaigns will be heard.  And the campaign should be ongoing.  The next stage would be writing again saying it is 'just in case' the original got lost.  And following it all up by phone calls and acknowledging and co-operating with positive responses.

Unfortunately, doing this takes a considerable amount of time and life gets in the way.

Hi there,

Thanks for dropping by.  I wrote to loads of people,  but only got one response - from the head of my local authority's Autism Team.  He thought it could be a good idea, too.  I even wrote to the NAS's Media and Marketing Departments.  Nothing from them at all.  What a surprise!

I haven't forgotten about it.  But getting back to full-time work has taken up a lot of my time and energy.  I've just had a couple of days off, and have been using the time to prepare some material for work for Autism Awareness Week.  It would have been good to have an idea like this up and running to coincide with the week, but that can't happen now.  Maybe another time.

Quite disillusioned, though, that I wrote to so many people (including at the NAS) and heard nothing back.

Just curious whether anything came out of this idea?

It is such a good idea imo.

If anything shows why we need this campaign it is the absolute farcical situation of the driving licence fiasco as on a different thread.

This is a prime example as to how we are misunderstood, and discriminated against, by among others, pontificating bureaucrats. 

And if such so called 'experts' don't understand us, what hope do we have for the rest of the population without bringing, and keeping, our case to the fore?

All campaigns have to start somewhere.  There are always members of the apathy party who can't be bothered or who think things won't make a difference.

A mighty oak tree grows from a little acorn, a desert is made of tiny grains of sand.  Once enough people are motivated, there will be a difference.  And most of all we have to believe in ourselves.

As I have stated about National Autism Week in previous years, we should take the opportunity to campaign, to publicise our problems, to show we are 'normal' but different, that we have our needs but also have our own skills and abilities.  We should send letters to the press, write to our MP, contact the broadcasting companies.  Very little has ever been successfully achieved without a fight.

And Tom, I think this is a great idea which needs developing.  Not every autistic person is a Susan Boyle, a Gary Numan, an Ann Hegarty or a Chris Packham.  But we share something with them. 

And this is worth publicising, celebrating and making others aware.

As you say, no harm in trying! I think it's a great idea to increase awareness and to show people that we look the same but perceive things and react to things very differently.  

If people think it's a crap idea that won't make an iota of difference, then fair enough.  Lord knows, plenty of other ideas have been tried without changing attitudes very much.

On the other hand... if people think it's worth a punt to try to get a broader dialogue going, then what's the harm?  You can't win (or lose) the money if you don't place the bet.

Just speak up.  Say what you think.

Yes, interesting.  I can assure you that he would never succeed in taking my photograph, though!  I have a deep-seated aversion to seeing my own image in any recorded context!

Even looking in the mirror is a struggle sometimes, but that's quite natural ;)

There's a surrealist artist in Australia called Andrew Baines whose work is very interesting too: inventorspot.com/.../beach_bizarre_living_surrealist_sculptures

That's Excellent. I'm really glad you've contacted the NAS Media team too - they would be vital really as they will know how it has been hijacked in the past. I'd give the programs themselves (like Victoria Derbyshire) a bit of a wide birth until you get the PR advice of what to present to them. The programs themselves will pick it up fast enough at a later date as the PR folk (if they are any good) will have a roster of sympathetic contacts

A fascinating idea. There's an autistic photographer on Twitter and Instagram whose work (which includes taking photos of other autistic people) you might find interesting: https://www.instagram.com/aut2beme/

Thanks, Paul, for your valuable insights and encouragement.  I have written to several different people, including academics and professionals working  in the field of autism - research, teaching, hands-on support.  I've also contacted the NAS's Press, Media and Campaigns departments.  One of the professionals I contacted is attending a conference next week and is going to talk to a few people there about the idea, and whether it is worth pursuing.  But yes, I quite take your point.

Putting feelers out to see what comes back. 

I really like this idea - but can I please urge a huge note of caution. Given that Aspies, in general, struggle with social interaction it would (in all likelihood) be extremely unwise to consider a Media campaign without professional help of an experienced PR company or individual to ensure it delivers on the points of its intention.

I have a lot of experience of various companies I have run dealing with the media and rarely does it pan out as one may have intended. It is nearly always manipulated into a differing version of what was put forward to suit the needs of the broadcaster unless it is stirctly formulated in the right way from the outset.

Recognising our weaknesses on this, as well as our strengths is crucial. I would hate for this to damage us rather than get the truth out there. I do truly love the idea though. I agree with everyone else that it has real potential.

I think this is a really good idea to raise much needed awareness, as autism is as such an invisible disability for many ( most people only think of the stereotypical image of autism) so when someone seems to fit in and cope their struggles are ignored sometimes with disastrous effects to their health, as well as this people don't understand the value these people can offer.

I think anything that can highlight this is a great idea

I don't suggest running it in the same way at all, because it's about focusing on an entirely different set of perceptions and stereotypes. What appealed to me was the idea of having a national platform,  maybe,  to both present a case and to challenge some of the perceptions often associated with autism. So people could see a bunch of 'ordinary looking' people who actually have needs that are perhaps greater than most 'ordinary" people's needs - and who also have capabilities that many employers,  for instance, would be attracted by. 

I've just read the article and can see the parallels. Except that Aspies can't be distinguished by the way they look. Unless acting awkwardly and aloof counts? What do you suggest, 56 Aspies in hoodies? Challenge the perception sometimes portrayed in the media associating people with ASD with criminal behaviour when actually the vast majority of us are not criminals, many hold academic qualifications and professional jobs? What's your vision Tom?