Are you going to Autreat/Autscape 2013?

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Well, that sounds interesting but what is like to be around other people like that?

Well, here are some short excerpts, taken from blog posts about both Autscape and Autreat, written by various aspie bloggers. Click on the links to read the full blog posts -

One aspie blogger, claiming Autscape 2012 was one of the most wonderful experiences she has had last year, described it as:
"this conference was unlike any other autism event I had been to. It was truly amazing…everything was quite well-organised, very autism friendly (for example, clapping during presentations was not allowed due to sensory issues) and people looked genuinely happy!": http://jennyberman.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/escape/

Another blogger described Autreat 2012 as "Autreat is Autistic space; a place with all of these people who are more like me than not like me. I've never, never been in a place where everyone is "like me," where I don't need to apologize for being socially "done" or for having a bad sensory day or for being literal or whatever. It's this space where people who run the same OS (operating system) as I do are the default, and that's really special. Instead of having to work hard at processing everything, it's a place where I could just be": http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2012 ... treat.html

That same blogger, in another blog post about Autreat 2012, wrote "Going home was so hard, so painful even, becase for the first time in my life it was like having a connection, a bond with everyone, a commonality even. I didn't want to go back to being a stranger in a strange, strange land.
...
Is that what family does? Is family the people you feel free to be yourself with -- not your best self but your real whole self? Is family the people whose distance hurts, those who you can't wait to be with again?

If so I have finally met my family, and we reunited at Autreat": http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2012 ... -like.html

Another blogger, writing about Autreat 2009, wrote "While what I'm about to say is literally true, that isn't why I chose it. Perhaps some of the readers of this blog will understand": http://aspieperspective.blogspot.co.il/ ... -2009.html
(I hope reader of WP do understand why his post, in addition to being literally true, also conveys a wider message about his experiences at Autreat)

Another blogger, writing about Autscape 2012, wrote: "no matter how high- or low-functioning, participants were among the kindest, most benevolent and bluntest people I’ve ever met. I felt like an ET in ET-land, or like a Martian on Mars. I felt so much gratitude for the organisers and I couldn’t help but marvel at the miracle that was unfolding before my eyes: people on the autism spectrum, outsiders, people impervious to social pressure, black sheep, original thinkers, weirdos, call them what you may, all gathered in an environment suitable to them, which is a true miracle when you think of the decades and centuries of isolation, exclusion, slander, locking away, scapegoating, and stoning that people on the spectrum had to endure and are still enduring on some parts of the planet. If there’s progress in history, here it is": http://www.autism.org.uk/~/media/NAS/Do ... 2-web.ashx
(her article, "my first Autscape experience" is on page 6)

If you search google for either Autscape or Autreat, you can find some other blog posts by aspie bloggers who describe their experiences at Autscape and/or Autreat.

Wow, I live about an hour away from Autreat. I suppose I should try to go...

I hope that week is open for vacation from my employer!

Once a daily schedule is released, it may be possible to pick one day for WPers to meet on or offsite. That would reduce the cost of those who are closer to the location, since only one day of day-only registration would be required.

Anyone else have thoughts on such a meeting? I'd be happy to discuss by PM as well.

I'm glad you liked Autreat so much.
You went in 2009, right?

I went in 2007, 2008 and 2011, so I wasn't there when you were there. It is a shame, really, because it would have been nice to meet you. Perhaps we'll meet at some future Autreat
(I can't go to Autreat this year either, but at least I'm hoping to make it to Autscape this summer)

I wanted to go to Autreat one year. I contacted some people about it and they were even trying to help arrange care for my newly diagnosed 2 year old so that I could go. Everyone seemed really friendly and nice.

I would like to go one day. I just don't haven enough time off at work or funds to go.

Hmmmmm, the number of people asking "What are they" went up, I hope that's a good sign .

I am about 80 percent sure I'm going, at least for one day. Is there anyone who might also want to attend for a day or two? I would think that would be much more affordable and easier to schedule than the entire week.

Are you sure it was in 1999?
I think it was a decade later, in 2009.

Although Autreat has been happening since 1996, Autscape has only been happening since 2005.
Autscape 2009 took place in the outskirts of London and I remember you joined us there for the first time.

No, I do not wish to attend the Autreat gathering this year. Although I realize the benefits of this camp for many individuals, it is not something I desire to attend at this time. I am happy such a camp exists for those who benefit from it.

I'll go if I'll have the money to attend by the time it rolls around. I don't have the money to pay for it at the moment, but that might change.

I'm not sure I'd call it a "camp", considering that it's on a college campus. I mean, the usage of that word in this context is well within American English, but "camp" when discussing the spectrum conjures up an image of something that Autreat really is'nt.

KenG, could you please summarize what Autreat is about? There seems to be a great deal of miscommunication floating around, and ANI's website does'nt appear to be clearing it up.

My thoughts about a day for WPers to meet up still stand. Are other people planning to visit/attend?

Some information can be gathered from this post: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp5307040.html#5307040

Other information can be gathered from previous years' Autreats' presentations -
http://www.autreat.com/past-workshops.htm

It amazes me that as early as 1996, Autreat's theme was already "Celebrating Autistic Culture".

More information, about Autreat and the Autistic community, can be gathered here:
http://www.autreat.com/History_of_ANI.html

Other than that, I can say that for me both Autscape and Autreat are less about the formal presentations, and more about the atmosphere (which one needs to experience to understand) and the opportunity to have various evening discussions with fellow Autistic dreamers, believers, idlers and activists!

I only found out about Autscape recently so not going this year but it is definitely something I want to try and get to in the future. Providing there is an easy way to get to the venue.

Sort of, but both Autreat and Autscape are much smaller than Sturgis. They only attract about a hundred participants every year. While some participants ride to Autreat and to Autscape on their motorcycles, others arrive with their cars, or by public transportation.

The atmosphere in both Autreat and Autscape is a lot quieter and simpler than in Sturgis.

For example, unlike in Sturgis, I have yet to encounter any naked women in either Autreat or Autscape. You never know, though, perhaps I just haven't noticed them, or maybe they will come this summer (just joking).

It's way too expensive. Do the organizers realize 90% of people on the spectrum are unemployed? Even for those employed it's not exactly a bargain.

Leaving aside the 90 percent issue, it's not a bargain, and it's not the ideal location, I'll say that.

I plan to be there for one day this year, and cost was one of the reasons, the lack of a final agenda being another one.