Exclusive Forum Section Idea...

Thank you for those links, Jim. Much appreciated. :)

Hiya,

Thanks for the suggestion, it's something we naturally considered before the launch of the Community, as would have been areas only for people from some geographic regions or even maybe sections just for professionals or parents.

Right now I think, as such a very young and just beginning, community it's most important to try and bring people together, no matter their relationship with autism. In the future, we could look at more prescriptive areas, or areas with more prescriptive audiences.

But it's always been our thinking that one website doesn't have to do and be everything, especially given the really limited resources we have a the charity. So we'd also encourage people interested in this idea to consider some of the other communities that focus on autism that do provide these kind of areas.

So as an example, maybe it's worth looking at Wrong Planet or Talk about Autism, which approach this issue in different ways. After all, there's no need to be a member of just one community and both of those websites seem to do great work - though I'm sure people will have other suggestions?

Hope that makes sense and as we move forward over the coming years it's something we'll continue to review and consider.

Hi mr BHT,

I didnt think you were advocating for a forsed seperation, I think you had very valid points and i do agree that somewhere for my son to post knowing he was talking to someone that would understand would be great. Sorry if i made you feel that i thought you were.

He is already a member of a Dyspraxic teen forum that is fantastic and exactly the sort of thing you were talking about and something similar on here would be great for him.

sam

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Just to make it clear no way I am advocating forced separation. Just a separate section where people who have the condition can post and share experiences with other sufferers. 

It wouldn't stop anyone posting anywhere else in the forum. In fact I can't see it being a problem at all as a lot of individuals with Asperger's/Autism will still be happy to share their opinions and experiences with those looking for answers. 

Perhaps the section wouldn't have to be 'hidden' - just added in the public domain with  the provision it's for Aspie's and Aut's only.  

Hi,

I think seperate areas if it was a forced seperation would undo some of the work and suport us parents get from hearing a wider view point and how people on the spectrum see things and I have read posts that work the other way with us nt's explaining how we see things. I am extremly gratefull for the help and insights I have gained into my son from the forum and cant thank everyone enough and you are right about the work parents do to forward the cause, im currently in communication with my Local Council pushing for better services in my area for the benifit of all.

However I do not see anything wrong with anyone wanting to discuss some things in areas that are only for people with ASD and likewise an area for NT if that helps them feel more comfortable and able to open up more because to me the forum is about helping people and if thats what people need then give it a go as long as its not made that you must post there.

 On the teenage point of view. I have finaly convinced my son to join the forum yesterday I hve been sharing some posts with him and have been able to have discusions based on what ive read. I am helping him set up his account today. Im unsure how im going to handle the privacy issues. I want him to feel free to say what he needs to say without worrying about me seeing it. Likewise if im having particular issues with him tht im asking for help in how will he feel if he reads it???? any advice???

Sam

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The 90% goes much deeper. It would be difficult too to get the peole with ASD into an independent debate perhaps.... sharing experiences seems to bring out the debate - discussing the doom and gloom enthusiastically is harder and self-fulfilling prophesy - not in the best sense.

Enigmatic?  Well diagnosis and support of young peope seems to be a postcode lottery, and there seems to be a spiralling crisis in terms of properly supporting young people on the spectrum. I suspect that research to progress this focuses too much on threads that - I don't want to be unjustly harsh - don't help people on the spectrum deal with everyday issues.

Also action on aspergers seems to come from parents' groups. They can be extraordinarily vociferous supporters of their own cause. The one thing conspicuously lacking in parents' groups are late teens and older people actually on the spectrum. Societies for people on the spectrum don't grow anything like as fast, and the people you see at parents' group events who are on the spectrum are with their parents, and maybe wondering whether there is anything for them.

I think the majority of voices are parents. Understandably. They need to advocate for their children and they are looking for answers. People on the spectrum generally seem less inclined to talk about it, and maybe as a result have much less of a voice, are less heard and even less seen.

I wonder though if a forum for those just within the spectrum would work. What impresses me here is how those on the spectrum join in the discussions raised by parents. Maybe in that respect we seem to be getting somewhere.