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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

    What about groups for neurodivergents in already existing venues organised by already existing organised structure with their own funding. Like schools and universities for kids and students. For adults it could be organised by the church, health/mental facilities, LGBTQ community or an organisation for human rights. It could be organised as a monthly meeting simply, so basically any owner of a multifunctional space can start an event like that. Well those events in different places could be done by the "union" that you are suggesting but it would solve the logistics as a start. Otherwise, I see it as any other organisation that is funded by donations and partly by other bodies, as the mentioned above، so you can't predict the size or scale or where you could have this venue. I can predict that in smaller cities or rural areas, which make big part of a country, this second option wouldn't be easy to do.

  • over 1 year ago in reply to Deleted user

    I can only really speak for church organisations and when I floated an idea similar to this it was politely ignored. That said mental health services in my area cannot even find the space to put people who are sectioned. They are actually sending individuals across the country because they do not have mental health beds for them. I doubt they have much free space for running groups.

    and anyway the point is not to have one meeting for neuro diverse people. it’s to give neuro diverse people and particularly autistic people the chance to set up numerous groups focused around a range of special interests which will help them socialise. One monthly meeting just isn’t going to cut it.

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  • over 1 year ago in reply to Deleted user

    I can only really speak for church organisations and when I floated an idea similar to this it was politely ignored. That said mental health services in my area cannot even find the space to put people who are sectioned. They are actually sending individuals across the country because they do not have mental health beds for them. I doubt they have much free space for running groups.

    and anyway the point is not to have one meeting for neuro diverse people. it’s to give neuro diverse people and particularly autistic people the chance to set up numerous groups focused around a range of special interests which will help them socialise. One monthly meeting just isn’t going to cut it.

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