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I am once again asking for your support

Peter

So I’ve been running this website (http://areyoualien.uk) that try’s to promote autistic rights and help autistic people defend their own rights. Right now a lot of its material is based on my own experience of suing a student union but really it needs to diversify.

I’d be interested in hearing if anyone here would like to write an article or two for the site, perhaps based on your own experience?

I’m aiming at providing legal information to people trying to defend their own rights (or those of a loved one) so topics it would need to cover would be

  • how legislation like the equality act might apply to the sort of situations autistic people face.
  • How to argue your case with those stepping on your rights.
  • How to access mediation and support for your dispute
  • How to access legal aid
  • Where appropriate how to bring legal action as a litigant in person.

Areas I’d like to cover would be

  • education
    • In both schools, further education and higher education.
    • Both for parents and students over school leaving age
    • Working through the OIA / OfS
    • Bring action to both a tribunal or the county court
  • Personal autonomy for those detained / subject to restrictions because of their autism
    • Focusing mostly on the court of protection / mental health tribunals
    • The right to legal aid is more extensive here so the focus is much more on how to get a good lawyer and push forward to your day in court.
  • The right to a family / reproduction
    • There is overlap with the above material on autonomy because people who’ve had their mental capacity to consent to sex / marrage or take reproductive decisions about their own body challenged are also often subject to some degree of deprivation of Liberty.
    • However there is a real concern about the suitability of autistic people as parents being challenged in the family courts.
    • So a separate document on challenging decisions about custody in the family courts and reproductive autonomy in the court of protection is warranted.
  • The work place
    • This would cover the very broad rage of issues autistic people struggle with in the work place
    • as well as the fairly well established pathway through ACAS mediation through to employment tribunal.

The existing material probably already covers a lot of the process of challenging discrimination by service providers but it was formulated with student unions in mind so if anyone wants to take that material and adapt / expand it into something more general they’d be welcome to.

Is anyone interested?

  • Hi I am a parent  of someone with Autism, hope that counts.

    As a parent it has been a constant battle with professional and the LA. First, I think once diagnosed people should have an automatic pathway for support, as you would with a physical diagnoses. Secondly, Local authorities need to be held accountable for their often unlawful actions which result in people with ASD not getting any help and lastly legal services and advice should be easily available. When it comes to solicitors that deal with legal aid for SEN they are often completely uninterested and useless not to mention impossible to find, They often don't represent in tribunals. Also if you are unhappy with tribunal decision it should be made easier to appeal  and there should be grounds to appeal.

    Keep up the good work.

    Caroline

  • Hi, speaking as a parent of someone with Autism, it has been a constant battle with professionals and the local authority to get help for my daughter.

    Firstly, i would like to see an automatic pathway of support for those with ASD, as you would with a physical diagnoses. Secondly LA's should be legally held accountable for their often unlawful actions which results in people with Autism not getting any support. Thirdly, legal representation under legal aid for SEN is virtually impossible to find. Often solicitors are not helpful and don't represent at tribunals. If you are not happy with a tribunals decision there should be more grounds for appeal. The NHS should provide professions who specialise in Autism, such as therapist. Too often medication is prescribed as an easy option even though this is not recommended by NICE.

    Keep up the good work

  • Hi I am a parent  of someone with Autism, hope that counts.

    As a parent it has been a constant battle with professional and the LA. First, I think once diagnosed people should have an automatic pathway for support, as you would with a physical diagnoses. Secondly, Local authorities need to be held accountable for their often unlawful actions which result in people with ASD not getting any help and lastly legal services and advice should be easily available. When it comes to solicitors that deal with legal aid for SEN they are often completely uninterested and useless not to mention impossible to find, They often don't represent in tribunals. Also if you are unhappy with tribunal decision it should be made easier to appeal  and there should be grounds to appeal.

    Keep up the good work.

    Caroline

  • in reply to Peter

    Unfortunately Civil Law isn't my strong point, Criminal law is, I work in that environment so can advise on that, but as far as what you are looking for I am sorry that I can't be any help 

  • in reply to Golf23

    Legal research. Would you know how to sue some one for discrimination? Or bring a case to a tribunal on work or education? Or what your rights are to contest an attempt to put you away in a mental hospital?

    most people wouldn’t. I’m trying to put together a set of how to guides for autistic people who need to use the law to protect their rights.

  • in reply to Peter

    What research are you trying to conduct?

  • in reply to Desmond79

    Except I’m not saying the laws we have are that bad. But they’re dificult  to enforce. Right now if you are discriminated against you can only enforce the law by suing.

    qualified one way cost shifting is one thing that might help. We already have this for personal injury claims. That’s why you get no win no fee personal injury lawyers. If we had it for equality act cases we’d get no win no fee discrimination lawyers.

    Yes this has undoubtedly encouraged fraudulent lawsuits but it has also made companies much more careful about safety and improved access to justice.

    I doubt there is anything we could do that would make it easier for disabled people to sue for discrimination that wouldn’t make fraud more of an issue.

    like wise with the court of protection and mental capacity act it feels more like it’s the miss application of the competency definition that’s the issue.

    And I think most people would agree the system right now for sectioning people with autism under the mental health act is a disgrace.

  • in reply to Sporadic Sparkly

    As a dyslexic person I  welcome all the editorial input but actually the research side of things is what takes most of the time. I’ve had a number of autistic people suggest edits for clarity or to correct typos. What I’m really hoping for is some help with research.

  • in reply to JuniperFromGallifrey

    I am happy to pitch in and help if required, although as I'm not a professional editor/proofreader, I cannot promise that I would be capable of spotting each and every typing error or incorrectly spelt word... just the ones that leap out at me.

  • To be honest, I'm sceptical of Advocacy Groups getting involved with Policy Making. NGOs have too much influence in Government, as it is, without trying to create further laws and regulations. 

    "The more laws in a country, the more corrupt the Political System!" (Tacitus) 

  • in reply to Sporadic Sparkly

    We ALL need and Editor. Just assign yourself! Usually I find that when someone adds an emoji with a hand raised and says”Please let me help with Editing and spelling!! It’s one of my specialised interests” I am a million times happy for their support! Especially those of us with dyslexia. 

    I think it’s incredibly important to set standards with aesthetic lest a sociopathic company without our best interest attracts those we need to 

  • I've just taken a look at the website and I think it's brilliant.

    However, I know I'm probably going to sound terribly pedantic, but on the 'About Us' page I have spotted a few typing errors towards the bottom of the page (I didn't notice any on the other pages), and wasn't sure if this is something that might need to be rectified? 

  • in reply to Celticchainaxe

    A case study? That would indeed be useful. I’ll add you so you can message me about it. Discuss the situation and how you want your personal details handled (eg anonomisation of your name etc)

  • Site looks like it's coming along well. You mentioned that stories from personal experiences could help open the eyes of lawmakers - and I've got a brilliant story, I was attacked by the NHS in August, they tried to steal my newborn son. I can tell you all about that, if it's useful?