Aspies For Freedom

Hi,
It seems that Autistic Pride day in Manchester kinda failed last year at the Manchester Science and Industry Museum due to people not knowing exactly where to go IN the museum, or just plain not being able to get there.
That in mind, I have a new suggestion, that we book a place called The Basement in Manchester (The Basement, 24 Lever Street, Manchester), which is a "Free Space" with a load of Linux computers with Internet connection that are free to use, an alternative bookshop, Vegan Cafe and area for exhibitions.
I suggest that we night want to put up a small exhibition on Autism, and maybe chill there on the day.
Any suggestions are welcome....
Thanks,
Badspyro

I'm not in Manchester, but I have been to The Basement before and it's quite a lovely place. Sounds like a brilliant way to celebrate APD.

i've been to the basement before (mainly for SolFed related activity), and that seems like a good place.

i have an idea for an anarcho-aspie flag, that could help swing it

I live near manchester. I have AS and would love to be there!

Likewise.

The Basement is currently closed.

The building that housed it was affected by a major fire on Lever Street that razed some adjacent buildings.  The problem for The Basement was mainly water damage from putting the fires out.  They were fundraising for refurbishment when their landlord told them there was a problem with the lease because the basement of the building had been sub-divided (by the landlord) and this was apparently not in compliance with regulations and they couldn't go back into the building.

(It's my guess that the landlord realised that when the insurance kicked in and the building was refurbished they could rent the space out for a lot more, as the Northern Quarter is becoming increasingly trendy.)

I've just checked their website and the Basement folks apparently they won the dispute with the landlord and are looking to reopen.

http://thebasement.clearerchannel.org/new/

It was a really good space, with a cheap vegan cafe, internet access, a bookstore, meeting space and so on.  Would be a good, central, informal space for people to meet if/when it reopens.  Feel free to contact them and get involved if you want to help make it happen.  I know some of them and they're lovely.