Autistic Strategies Network - 2021: A year of increasing collaboration [THREAD]
We begin 2021 with a number of programmes and projects in the pipeline. These are some of our focus areas for the year, on the continent, in our country and in our province:
We begin 2021 with a number of programmes and projects in the pipeline. These are some of our focus areas for the year, on the continent, in our country and in our province:
AFRICA: Autistic advocacy
We’re building relationships with autistic activists throughout Africa and with cross-disability organisations serving communities in African languages to support autistic strategies in ways that draw from the best of African values and culture.
We’re building relationships with autistic activists throughout Africa and with cross-disability organisations serving communities in African languages to support autistic strategies in ways that draw from the best of African values and culture.
AFRICA: Ableism
A meeting with the head of the Health Department in the Western Cape identified ableism as the single greatest obstacle to better health services for disabled people in the province.
A meeting with the head of the Health Department in the Western Cape identified ableism as the single greatest obstacle to better health services for disabled people in the province.
AFRICA: Ableism (continued)
We also see ableism (including internalised ableism) as a major stumbling block to progress in any of our other activities in the continent and internationally, and recognise that ableism is often perpetuated by disability organisations themselves.
We also see ableism (including internalised ableism) as a major stumbling block to progress in any of our other activities in the continent and internationally, and recognise that ableism is often perpetuated by disability organisations themselves.
AFRICA: Ableism (continued)
Working with both local and international activists, we intend to start shifting perceptions in view of better service-delivery and the acceptance of disabled people as full, valued members of society.
Working with both local and international activists, we intend to start shifting perceptions in view of better service-delivery and the acceptance of disabled people as full, valued members of society.
AFRICA: Communication rights
Communication is a human right. In 2021 you can expect to hear more regularly from the nonspeaking collaborators within the Autistic Strategies Network.
Communication is a human right. In 2021 you can expect to hear more regularly from the nonspeaking collaborators within the Autistic Strategies Network.
AFRICA: Communication rights (continued)
We intend to support the growth of service-delivery and fundraising to provide communication access to nonspeakers who cannot afford suitable AAC, with a special focus on autistic people with apraxia.
We intend to support the growth of service-delivery and fundraising to provide communication access to nonspeakers who cannot afford suitable AAC, with a special focus on autistic people with apraxia.
AFRICA: Communication rights (continued)
Our efforts over the past five years have contributed to a growing number of young autistic people in South Africa being able to express their thoughts in words.
Our efforts over the past five years have contributed to a growing number of young autistic people in South Africa being able to express their thoughts in words.
AFRICA: Communication rights (continued)
It has always been our goal to extend the growth of such opportunities for nonspeakers to the rest of Africa as well.
It has always been our goal to extend the growth of such opportunities for nonspeakers to the rest of Africa as well.
SOUTH AFRICA: Emergency shelter
Shelters are often not accessible to disabled people, particularly to families. Some homeless shelters also have quotas of the number of disabled people they ar prepared to take.
Shelters are often not accessible to disabled people, particularly to families. Some homeless shelters also have quotas of the number of disabled people they ar prepared to take.
SOUTH AFRICA: Emergency shelter (continued)
We will work with a variety of civil organisations and government departments to address this problem.
We will work with a variety of civil organisations and government departments to address this problem.
SOUTH AFRICA: Chemical restraint
We’ve had tip-offs that chemical restraint is once again being used in schools. We are seeking partners to help us address this illegal practice, whereby parents are forced to give their children specific drugs to be allowed to attend a school.
We’ve had tip-offs that chemical restraint is once again being used in schools. We are seeking partners to help us address this illegal practice, whereby parents are forced to give their children specific drugs to be allowed to attend a school.
SOUTH AFRICA: ABA
We are working with a number of agencies and activists to ban nonconsensual Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in South Africa, and we hope that this will set a precedent for other countries in Africa to do the same.
We are working with a number of agencies and activists to ban nonconsensual Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in South Africa, and we hope that this will set a precedent for other countries in Africa to do the same.
SOUTH AFRICA: ABA (continued)
This in keeping with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (#CRPD). The programme will run in conjunction with some of our other programmes to reduce ableist crime.
This in keeping with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (#CRPD). The programme will run in conjunction with some of our other programmes to reduce ableist crime.
WESTERN CAPE: Public health
In collaboration with the Western Cape Network on Disability (WCND) and the @WesternCapeGov, we will be training public health workers in how to work with autistic and other disabled people.
In collaboration with the Western Cape Network on Disability (WCND) and the @WesternCapeGov, we will be training public health workers in how to work with autistic and other disabled people.
WESTERN CAPE: Public health (continued)
Part of our training will create awareness of the common health issues in autistic people and their families, and how to address them using available resources.
Part of our training will create awareness of the common health issues in autistic people and their families, and how to address them using available resources.
WESTERN CAPE: Autistic Community Network
This is a support programme in which we collaborate with fundraising organisations and allies in the community to support individual autistic people and sometimes also friends and family.
This is a support programme in which we collaborate with fundraising organisations and allies in the community to support individual autistic people and sometimes also friends and family.
WESTERN CAPE: Autistic Community Network (continued) This is for emergencies such as evictions, difficulty in accessing medical services, abuse or hunger. We’ve been doing this informally for years, but this year we intend to formalise these activities.
Updates to our list of focus areas will appear here: autisticstrategies.net/2021-autistic-…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
