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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

    Incidentally you’re right this model isn’t practical for  rural  areas. Delivery of basically all services to rural areas except for A few essential services like post office and GP surgeries now involves people travelling into cities and I’m afraid that’s probably going to hold true for autistic people as well

  • over 1 year ago in reply to Peter

    Might be worth if  this does go forwards to create a trial of sorts I think you'd have to poll members here on which of the big cities folks are closest to, or at least say what city is nearest to you and see if others in the same or similar distance would be interested in getting it started with some irl  logistics, finding a place for you to set up etc.

  • over 1 year ago in reply to Peter

    thanks for adding Bristol Grin

    I heard, but don't know how true it is as I've not yet had chance to research it, that the south west has a higher rate of ND people than the rest of the country

  • over 1 year ago in reply to Peter

    It looks like Manchester is winning. Its too far for me right now. But I’m going go for a job interview there tomorrow. If I get it I’ll be commuting in twice a week. If that happens maybe we can look at getting some volunteers together and making some funding applications.

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  • over 1 year ago in reply to Peter

    It looks like Manchester is winning. Its too far for me right now. But I’m going go for a job interview there tomorrow. If I get it I’ll be commuting in twice a week. If that happens maybe we can look at getting some volunteers together and making some funding applications.

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