The NAS recently sent out an email called Voting to amend the Articles of Association of The National Autistic Society
there was a link to "What does this mean?", a document outlining how the changes will be carried out. All NAS members are invited to vote. The changes seem to me to be very manipulative and the way the meaning is described omits quite a few details. This Community forum doesn't allow me to attach the document, or my response, which I have sent to the Chair of the NAS Trust. If you are a member, you should have received the email. Please read it, as it will change the way the NAS is run and make it less accountable to its autistic members. My response to some of the statements in the "What does this mean?" document is pasted below:
Response from NAS Member
In the accompanying email, the Chair of the Board of Trustees makes two illuminating statements:
“As parents ourselves, we know that the work the NAS does to provide information, campaign and deliver services has never been more needed.”
Clearly the NAS regards itself as an organisation for parents. Yet well over half of all autistic people are self-determining adults, many of whom are paid up members of the NAS. If the Chair of the Board of Trustees regards us as irrelevant, should we let our memberships lapse?
“The NAS will remain what it has always been, a member organisation run by and for people on the autism spectrum, their families and those who support them.”
To say that the NAS is run by and for autistic people is risible. Less than 7% of NAS employees identify themselves as autistic. This new forum will help ensure that the NAS remains a parent organisation and the recommendations make that apparent.
New NAS Articles: This document is opaque and manipulative from beginning to end.
“There can be up to 16 trustees, all of whom are volunteers, with half being elected from and by the NAS Council and half being directly appointed. “
If half of the Board are directly appointed, who appoints them? If half of the Trustees are direct appointments, then whoever appointed them is in a position of patronage so can manipulate all decisions, as it is unlikely that every elected Trustee will be available for every decision.
Proposals
An online National Forum is not an equal forum. It excludes
- those who do not use the internet, often because they are older or are not able to manage computer use
- those who cannot read or comprehend to the level of other contributors
- those who are not able to articulate in writing
“Compared to Council, the National Forum will be a more focused body. It will be chaired by a trustee and will be tasked by the Board…”
This statement tells us that discussions will be limited to issues that the Board decides are relevant, rather than issues of concern to members. Which means by extension, that the Forum is a tick-box exercise. It doesn’t decide the agenda and it cannot overthrow any decision where the Board appointed Trustees are of a different opinion to those elected by the membership.
“Members of the National Forum will be elected by the NAS membership but the constituencies from which candidates are drawn will ensure representation from key groups, including branches, the Nations and volunteers.”
There is no branch in my area and I am not a volunteer. I am however, autistic and a paid up member. Therefore, I will not be represented. My situation will be the same as many many others.
Trustees
“The Board will establish a Nominations Panel…” so again, The Board retains control of the decision making process.
“The Board therefore recommends unanimously that members vote in favour of the resolution.”
This last statement does not surprise me at all.
