Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, I wonder if anyone can help with this? A local Cafe are starting an Autism Support Group for Adults one evening per month which sounded great! However, the poster advertising the group states it is for 'High Functioning' ASD adults only. My son who is 21 would like to attend but is worried about the 'high functioning' definition and fears he may be stopped from joining. The group has been set up to discuss social change and they are to have guest lecturers. It sounds discriminatory to me. What do others member make of this? I'd appreciate your views!
I don't think it's fair to call it discriminatory. I understand some ASD folks can't join it dues to the severity of the condition. But paralysed people can't join marathons, and that's not a good reason to not organise those, right?
Organizers do what they can, trying to help at least someone somehow. Don't blame them for not helping the whole world at once.
It sounds interesting. I wish my area offered something like that. Hardly anyone is just going to score 1 throughout the test. I am a mix of Level 1 and 2 so would be inclined to give it a go if it was offered where i live, If your son is like level 3 i can understand the hesistancy.
Thanks for your reply. I will contact the Cafe and explain. As it stands the wording on the poster doesn't seem inclusive or supportive! I appreciate your advice!
That doesn’t sound like a very supportive support group. Is it the cafe itself that is setting up the group? If so could you contact them and explain how including that line on their poster is discouraging? I understand that having a focus like ‘discussing social change’ may seem helpful but I think advertising it as a support group is a bit of a stretch.