Autism non-profit staffed by people with Asperger's Syndrome

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I've been attending a few support and discussion groups for people with Asperger's Syndrome for a long time now and it's really opened my eyes to how much people with Asperger's Syndrome seem to care about things larger than themselves in this world, and how many talents we all have to offer. But unfortunately so many of us aren't living up to our full potential, with a lot of people being unemployed or underemployed even with university degrees.

It saddens me that we seem to be not living up to our full potential socially, emotionally, and in the work world, so I've gotten the idea of starting up a non-profit for people with Asperger's Syndrome to put their talents to use in a way that will be productive and give us plenty of things to put on our résumés.

I was wondering if the good people of Wrong Planet have any advice for me about this situation--either services they would like to see offered by non-profit groups, or anecdotes about working in groups of other people on the Autism spectrum. I'm looking to provide an avenue to be productive, get out and meet other people who understand my life situation, and to feel like I'm doing something satisfying with me life in a way I don't think I could accomplish yet in the neurotypical world. While it wouldn't be an accurate reflection of the real world, working with other people who have Aspeger's Syndrome would ameliorate the social issues that keep me and others from being confident and successful.

Thank you so much for anything at all!

Personally, I volunteer in my church's special ministry for autistic kids (we average 6-9 a week) and that has given me a great sense of accomplishment, especially now that they are showing remarkable growth.

Well, providing respite care (I.E. baby sitting services for autistic children) would be a good place to start. Simply put, you dont need any degrees or special certification in order to take care of children. After all, not every parent has a degree in childhood psychology. This makes it easier to start with then something like a engineering consulting firm. As posted above, you would probably want to work with a local church or something as they probably have the facilities you'd need. Churches are mostly empty except for Sunday morning, and most churches would willingly donate the rooms they arent using during the week to a good cause.

One of my and my girlfriends respite workers is a parent of an autism child.

how about doing art classes or music classes for kids with autism? or gardening? or reading tutoring? or math tutoring? volunteer in schools? setting up aspie adults to volunteer with kids with special needs?

or you can send a bunch of aspie civil engineers over to my house to get me off-grid and running on solar, wind, and gray water!! !

You know, that sounds like a great idea--I'm sure people on the spectrum can have a heck of an easier time connecting to autistic children than neurotypicals, and maybe there's a chance to bring them "out of their shell" so to speak with something new and interesting.

I think it'd be great to see fun classes for children on the spectrum to give them a wide range of experiences without the difficulty of having to function in a neurotypical setting on top of all the new stimulation. And it'd be a great way for parents to get to meet each other and find playdates for their kids, too.

cool ...glad you like my idea. i think whoever you recruit to volunteer could also work with struggling (at-risk) NT kids, especially in the lower grades... consider inner city type schools ?

If anyone starts something like this, I'd be happy to donate what I can

Most of those in positions of authority are not being helpful. In fact, they want to see us oppressed although would undoubtedly never admit to it.

People in high places choose--mainly for purposes of job security--to invalidate what we say and who we are. They have a vested interest in the STATUS QUO or they wouldn't be holding powerful positions within that status quo. It is they who could help or heal if they chose to do so. But primarily they seek to oppress or possibly eliminate us. What they do not want is accessibility for us. So they block our efforts by making sure no autistics are in positions of power and influence. This is how the status quo works to defeat our empowerment and ability to obtain the services we require. However the demands for accessibility are getting difficult to sweep under the carpet anymore....it's unbelievable when they say they don't hear the autistic masses screaming for help..

Unfortunately the status quo has seen us as a threat for several decades. Hopefully that is changing, but if so, it is a painfully slow transition. And that transition needs to be catalyzed, quickened. If we are being rebirthed, we certainly don't want to die during a painful ordeal that, in some ways, doesn't look at all promising. The status quo funds science which in turn is paid to propose ways autistics could be detected and aborted in the womb. Genocide? Well, too early to get paranoid....but it is a distinct possibility.

Watch out for those in high places, those who benefit from the status quo. They aren't likely to be our allies or to advocate on our behalf. Although the exceptions.... if there are any....may well be risking their job in order to help us. Whatever small assistance they choose to render--it would be wise if we gratefully receive it rather than exploit their good intentions. Basically we need to self-advocate, at a grass roots level, in order to achieve the freedom and respect to which we are entitled.

"The key here is educating the allies we get from the 'more able' sector, that what applies to the 'more able', in terms of rights, equity, and respect, applies to all of us." [Phil Schwarz]

Hope this link is helpful. Best wishes in your endeavors. And thankyou for your action.

www.wrongplanet.net/postp2119675.html#2119675