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Should there be such a thing as an autistic union?

Peter
over 1 year ago

I’ll make a poll for this later when I’m on my laptop. However the question I put to you is this. Should there exist local organisations in the major cities patterned like student unions but with the specific aim of serving autistic adults.

such organisations would:

  • operate a permanent venue which it would make available to members to run events for free or at a highly subsidised rate.
  • provide advice and advocacy services to autistic people Who feel they are being discriminated against or otherwise marginalised.
  • provide PR and networking for individuals wishing to start-up groups and events under the umbrella of the union.
  • provide careers guidance aimed at Autistic people of all levels of ability high and low who experience difficulties with the communication issues involved in jobhunting and application.

notes:

  • when I say venue I don’t necessarily mean some massive sprawling complex of buildings. Even something as small as a porter cabin would be better than nothing.
  • I am suggesting that this would constitute a bona fide autism charity under UK charity law.
  • I am not suggesting that every city would immediately be able to get such a facility, i’m saying in principle would you like there to be such a thing and should somebody start one somewhere in the hopes that it would spread to other locations?
  • I am not suggesting that an organisation of this kind could be funded purely by the membership fees of its autistic members. any more than a student union could be funded purely by the fees of its students. student unions get grants from the universities. an organisation like this would have to be in receipt of charitable grants from other bodies.

Parents
  • over 1 year ago

    I think acquiring buildings like that takes a lot of funding.  What you need to do is start small groups in places like church halls or other cheap facilities, which you can build up and each member makes contributions to cover costs.  

    Things like this grow organically.  It all starts with one person with a vision but it takes time and effort.  If it's something that you want and believe in, then maybe you could be the one to take the first steps to get it going.  

Reply
  • over 1 year ago

    I think acquiring buildings like that takes a lot of funding.  What you need to do is start small groups in places like church halls or other cheap facilities, which you can build up and each member makes contributions to cover costs.  

    Things like this grow organically.  It all starts with one person with a vision but it takes time and effort.  If it's something that you want and believe in, then maybe you could be the one to take the first steps to get it going.  

Children
  • over 1 year ago in reply to Glitter

    What you seem to be suggesting would be running a kind of reverse booking agency. Whereas the average booking agency would book a venue on your behalf and you would pay slightly more for the Service of having them make the booking arrangements for you The charitable booking agency would make a considerable loss by massively under charging you for the fees for the booking of the venue. I think doing things that way it would very soon end up being cheaper to just lease a building

  • over 1 year ago in reply to Glitter

    I’m not sure I can think of any examples of groups that subsidise the use of a venue but don’t themselves own or Lease a venue. If a core part of your charitable model is going to be providing space at a subsidy or for free I doubt there is a cost-effective way to do it that doesn’t involve having a venue.

    if you think about other organisations that offer a similar service, student unions, working men’s clubs, some old private members clubs, they all tend to own / lease their own property.