Message received from The National Autistic Society today (13th December 2022):
"The National Autistic Society’s single ambitious goal is to create a society that works for autistic people and their families. To achieve that goal, we need to know what that society would actually look like.
We launched our ambitious Moonshot Vision project at the start of 2022 and worked with autistic people and their families to understand what a society would look like that works for them.
It was clear from our research that as a society we still have a long way to go to understanding the value that autistic individuals can bring to our community. Society needs to respect the integral role of autistic people, friends, families and carers have in each other’s lives.
Autistic people and their families told us a society that really works:
values autistic individuals
maximises autistic power
guarantees support
adapts public spaces and services
and is free from discrimination.
These are tangible goals to aim for, not just for our organisation but for the whole of society including, other organisations, campaigners and governments.
The next step for the National Autistic Society is to develop and share a new strategy that defines our role in achieving a society that works for autistic people. This work is already well under way, and we look forward to sharing our new strategy in 2023.
How can you get involved?
What we have tried to do with our own Moonshot project is help describe what we are all working for, so that it can help us all plan to get there – and encourage more people to join us in getting there.
If you would like to find out more, visit the website
I would encourage people to pay that visit and read more.
The next step for the National Autistic Society is to develop and share a new strategy that defines our role in achieving a society that works for autistic people. This work is already well under way, and the NAS looks forward to sharing their new strategy in 2023.
I have been giving this issue some close personal attention this year, a deep dive with all my customary focus. On my website I promote Autism Acceptance rather than Autism Awareness. Awareness in itself is neither understanding nor the change of behaviour on the part of ‘society,’ particular others, that is required. The education, advice, and information presented has the autistic person making all the changes and ‘society’ none. To those who insist that autism is not a ‘disability,’ but an alternate way of doing things and processing information, I can agree, so long as those doing the insisting understand what this entails.
Autistic people don’t need lessons, still less lectures, on ‘alternate’ methods – they are masters of the art having spent a lifetime exploring, adapting, and innovating alternate ways of managing everyday life. To those who give examples of alternate abilities which involve others helping the supposedly disabled person to achieve things, I simply ask: where are those others? Autistic people
tend to find that such others are thin on the ground, thin to non-existent outside of close family and friends, for those lucky enough to have them.
I shall temper my words and simply say that the lack of understanding, help, and support for autistic
people I have discovered this past year is a disgrace, condemning individuals to live far short of their potentials. Their own personal happiness suffers as society itself loses the unique, positive, creative contributions autistic people can make when socially enabled.
I agree with those who tend to avoid the word ‘disability.’ I agree very much. Autistic people are positively loaded with talent and creativity. But if ‘society’ doesn’t see it, doesn’t understand it, and doesn’t value it, then all those talented and creative people end up marginalised. Autism, if anything, is a social disability in which the disability in large part is on the side of society.
I shall temper my words and simply declare it a national scandal. And quote from a recent exchange I had with the professionals who handled diagnosis: “I am sad to say that there is very little in terms of post diagnostic or any kind of autism support.”
The NAS contains useful resources for self-education and self-help. There are tiny little groups here
and there. But there is no extensive support network, the kind of societal cooperation that is required if the unique talents of autistic people are to flourish.
The power of neurodiversity? Very possibly. But not in a society that has you wasting your time, talents, and energies constantly negotiating obstacles and hurdles, not to mention running through brick walls that could care less.
On my website I promote Autism Acceptance rather than Autism Awareness. Awareness in itself is neither understanding nor the change of behaviour on the part of ‘society’ - particular others and institutions - that is required. The education, advice, and information presented has the autistic person making all the changes and ‘society’ none. That has to change.
