The local organisation here was set up by parents to help parents.
...
It almost was as if they had patted me on the head and treated me like a two year old.
Zed,
Isn't it amazing that these two things seem to be nearly *universal* when dealing with the *well-known* 'autism advocacy' organizations?
-BobB
Featherways, what you did, going... will be what changes the group for ever maybe. When you point out that simple set of facts - they will learn a valuable lesson from your experience. I am sorry it was so stressful for you, but you took one for the team as far as getting more awareness out there. In some groups, it all depends who was the over-worked committe chair - some people, unless someone steps up and ask questions or suggests specifics or tells them (the volunteers) exactly what to do, or how to structure something, they just don't know. You may have a great impact on them.
These parents just want their children replaced by the irrational, delusional fantasy children they think they were "supposed" to have. That is what it boils down to. They do NOT want to understand. They do NOT want to communicate. They want to dominate and control. They want to destroy diversity and kill off anything that does not fit their delusional fantasies.
Anything and anyone that forces them to deal with us as if we were actual human beings and not objects to be manipulated and controlled is rejected by these vile creatures.
You are wrong. I am sorry that you are either cynical or worn out by the travesties of injustice in the world, but you generalizing view of parents is just wrong. FYI.
Some "people" are weaker than others, some "people" that are parents are more esily exhausted or maniuplated or just are negative pity seeking sorts - but not just parents. Some people are just not equipped sometimes to deal with many things - these same people - I am guessing you may have actually physically met (AFF term)a "curebie" parent who wants their child fixed..? I haven't, I am not saying they don't exist. I am saying that for the most part in this world people are good, and parents love their children just as they are, yes they do. Some less positive thinking people dealing in this hard world who happen to be parents are just not equippied to deal with any trials or tribulations - they could have all so called "easy" kids and they might still get it wrong.
Absolutes and blanket generalizations are too easy to disprove, why did you feel you must be so strong in your assertion? (vile creatures, these parents
Yesterday, I tried sending an email to one of their Trustees. The email address we were given in that meeting doesn't work. I rang the NAS switchboard number and said "I'm trying to get an email to one of your Trustees. Which email address would you suggest I could use so that it can get to him?". The receptionist replied, "We have a no-email policy. We do not give out email addresses".
I thought about it for a moment, and then said, "Not any email address at all, not even a central one that can be forwarded to him? Nothing?"
"Oh," she replied. "You can send it to the central nas@nas.org.uk email address if you like."
I did.
So an organisation with £7 million in the bank that employs hundreds of staff and is there to represent people whose primary means of communication is often email.....will not let you contact any of their people, no matter how senior or public-facing, directly by email.... but insist that the whole country writes in to just one central email address. Just so you know.
Anyone want to guess why that would be?
Ten days and counting...no response as yet from the NAS. Anyone want to guess whether they'll ever respond to the letter? Given past performance, I'd say it's unlikely.
I'm quite shocked, I thought NAS were quite good, the stuff I've seen on there doesn't mention about Autism being a disease but having events that aren't autistic friendly that, I'm not happy with. They've kind of let me down.
Sounds like that society SUKS!! well, you should send a letter to a leading newspaper, or to another society so it can be published online or in a news letter. Then I Exist will know that thier policies need to change. Simple.
15 days and counting...no response. Have now sent new letter to their Chief Exec, Mark Lever.
... thats either a very busy or very silly society
Oh they do this a lot. Can't be bothered to reply most of the time. I get rather fed up with it.
They'd be cross with other organisations who don't cater for people with an ASD and who don't respond to letters written by us, so it seems only polite to at least say "Thanks for the letter - bit busy, will get back to you soon".