According to This Wikipedia Article, Hans Asperger was born on February 18, 1906.  He is the man credited with being the first to identify Asperger's Syndrome.

On that day, I intend to stay at home and contribute nothing to the economy.  This is my small way of showing people what the world would be like without Aspies in the workplace.  My hope is that eventually, this and similar actions will show the world just how many of us there are, and just how much of a contribution we make.

To this end, I've planned to communicate this event to the local news outlets -- radio and TV stations -- about a week after New Year's Day, with reminders every week until the actual day of the event.

And when I say "contribute nothing to the economy", I mean no purchases of any kind -- no gas for the car, no eating out at restaurants, no groceries -- nothing.  I've also reserved that day as a day off from work.  I may just spend the day either at the library or watching TV.  Maybe I'll do some yard work, bake some bread, or paint the bathroom.

Please consider taking similar actions.  Call your local news outlets and ask them for details on "Day Without an Aspie".  Maybe you could even provide a few details of your own.  The point is not so much as to "go on strike" as it is to get the media interested, and through their interest, maybe more non-Aspies will learn thatwe're people too!

So ... what do you think?  Will you participate in a peaceful Day without and Aspie on February 18, 2011?

(If the survey hasn't loaded, please be patient.  I'm working on it.)

This post was last modified: 10-07-2010 06:31 AM by Fnord.

If I have to work that day, I can't celebrate it.

People who observe "Day Without an Aspie" don't have to be Aspies themselves...

But wouldn't this contribute to the stereotype that Aspies are incapable of being independent because they can't handle the stress of everyday life?

cool idea
also i think that no neurtypicals who know/ work /friends/date aspies shouldnt do anything related to any of us . so
no ladyhawke (no good music)
no einstin( no good science )
no tim burton ( no good movies )
no temple granin (so no one can eat meat - ha)
no robin williams  
etc
so they will eventually apreciate what we do in these fields
cool idea

dont know what day of the week that is, but you can count me in.

Nt's are so lazy and predictable. How many holidays did they create just for the purpose of taking off and doing nothing that day?

I will do nothing productive that day.

Believe it or not, anything an Aspie does could contribute to the stereotype that "Aspies are incapable of ________."  whatever one of us may be good at is seen as "proof" that we're incapable of the opposite.

Good with computers == Incapable of interpersonal relations.

Meticulous and orderly == Incapable of creative expression.

Concise, direct and to-the-point == Incapable of empathy.

Of course, there is a kernal of truth in every stereotype, but notice that those 'equals' signs work both ways.

Don't make me do a double facepalm...

I think this is a really good idea. Publicity for it builds year on year, like Talk Like a Pirate Day which was funny six years ago.

DWaA is not a holiday -- at least, not in the sense that Americans would view it.  It's more of an anti-holiday, because there are no parades, no gift exchanges, no "Aspie-Day" sales ("50% off our entire line of sheet-and-pillow sets!"), and no all-day sporting events.

People in the U.K. could take a "Holiday" on that Friday, though.

The point of DWaA is for Aspies (and those who support them) to not contribute to their local economy for one entire day, and to bring media attention to the absence of people in stores and workplaces.

Thus, if you must work that day (Friday, February 18, 2011), then simply purchase as little as possible on that day.

Please let those who support you know about this, and encourage them to take that day off in support of Aspies everywhere.  We can not gain their support with name-calling, noisy protests, obstructing business, and committing destructive acts.

We need to present an image to the public that we are reasonable, peaceful people who can make decisions for ourselves and act on those decisions without meltdowns or lack of reason.

If it helps, consider DWaA to be a general boycott of NT commercialism and exploitation.  If that doesn't inspire you to inaction, then I don't know what will.

Tech support would be the main hit.

UH, NO gifts or cards? There should at least be candy eggs or something.

This post was last modified: 10-08-2010 07:23 PM by skyblue1 .

BAD Sky!
Bad, bad Sky!
No! No! No!



The focus of this non-event is on "What would business and commerce be like without Aspies?"  How can DWaA have any effect if it only encourages buying and selling?

We have no cause to celebrate until we are accepted as normal human beings in a neuro-diverse society.  Thus, no celebratory symbols for sale.  This would only end up being another form of exploitaion of Aspies by Neurotypicals for their monetary gain, not ours.  Even a parade or demonstration would attract crowds, who would then go into the nearest store or restaurant to buy something, thus defeating the whole purpose of DWaA.

Lets keep it simple: (1) Buy or sell nothing on Feb. 18, 2011; (2) Let your local media outlets know what's going on; and (3) Get your friends and family involved, too.

Only this, and nothing more.