vickygleitz wrote:
We are putting together a community within an already existing community in colorado. Total segregation? No, An opportunity to receive IRL support, understanding, friendship,in some cases shared housing, mentoring of our young people,building acceptance b NTs' surrounding us, respite for exhausted moms and dads, possibly even business opportunities, all within a few short blocks [ that is in the 10 year plan]
I have no idea why there are so many extremely negative objections to such an idea. Most Autistics would not be comfortable in this type of arrangement. But those who do will thrive. They will be too busy creating, and loving, and sharing, and working,and inventing, and creating Masterpieces, and singing their songs, and living their dreams to have a suicide rate 28 times higher than the national norm.[ and when such feelings do occur, they will be surrounded by IRL people who can help them out] I believe there will be fewer AUtistics sexually assaulted, and those who have been will have others like themselves to help them walk through the healing process.
For those who would not want to be a part of something like that,cool. You will still receive some of the positive benefits.[ long term]
Intentional communities are NOT for everyone, so please do not make assumptions about failure based on what would not work for you.
Many people are hermits. I would guess that many of those hermits are Autistic. If that works for you, awesome. Just because it would not work for me does not mean that I believe that hermits are destined to be failed hermits. I used to live in Montana. while there, I met one true Montana Mountain Man. He lived off the land and did a small amount of trading with my late husband. We also knew a man who had lived far from everything off the land [alone] for 2 years. He moved back to a small town eventually, but he had no regrets about having lived off the land as a hermit,nor did he regret moving back to "civilization.[in retrospect, I think they were both Autistic]
A hermit, even an autistic one, would not enjoy being in our community. A "Tea Partier," even an Autistic one, would probably not be comfortable there,nor anyone who worshiped the God of Fox News. They would not be excluded, but they probably would not find such an arrangement appealing. And that is okay. They can still stop by for pie and coffee and enjoy "Autistic Space" when they want to.
Since this is not going to be a segregated community, and it will spread positive awareness to NT's, this seems like a great idea. Colorado is a place that I trust for things like this. I know from personal experience that Colorado is one of the best places to live if you are neurologically different in any way.
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There is a purpose for everything.