Is Aspire-Ireland refusing membership to adult Aspies now?

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Leaving all other issues aside.

Does anyone know any more about this?

Has anyone experienced this?

Does anyone know otherwise?

You can private mail me on [email protected] if you would be more comfortable.

M

When I realised I had AS a few years ago I contacted them for help.They offered nothing.
A lot of these charities are just a good living,social status and an easy life for lazy Neuroytypical who can spot a meal ticket.

This was just posted to the DublinSAS ( http://www.dublinsas.com ) mailing list. I am horrified by Aspire at this stage (and all the years they have claimed to speak for us, without even seeing us as equals, let alone consulting us) and fully support ICAAN.ie :

There have been a number of people whom have had trouble with regards to Aspire - The Asperger's Syndrome Association of Ireland, vis a vis Treatment and refusal of membership of both Parents and People with Asperger's, Non Verbal Learning Disabilities, High Functional Autism. Aspire is supposed to be representing Parents and People with AS and HFA in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. So far we have some 6 documented people refused membership and more then 30 people having been given the run around, or you feel you have been treated unfairly - we want to know how common this is, and how many people are affected - hopefully to hold Aspire and other so called representative groups to task - and stop representations being made on what we "need", which do not reflect our real needs, issues or wants without us being involved.

If there are any people whom have been treated abruptly; have been told that it is unsuitable for them, that they might not be welcome, or in anyway offensively or given the run around, told that this group, which under the Good Friday Agreement people can freely class themselves as British OR Irish OR both has members on both sides of the border.

If you have a situation where you were unfairly treated, we can represent your case anonymously as an Advocate, without disclosing your identity, or if you want to find out why, can assist you in adding your grievances to existing Equality Tribunal cases.

Please contact us at [email protected] (We are forming the Irish Council for Aspies and Autistic Networking) - we want fair and balanced support, services, consultation and establish Peer-to-Peer and Advocacy locally (not forgetting Education, Information and Socialising), and on the Island of Ireland - so WE - the experts are consulted and involved with decisions - and matters are no longer arbitrarily represented by small groups on our behalf without our say. We want everybody to be fully involved to the limit of their ability on a rights based approach, rather then being told a one size fits all, charity/health you should be happy with what I deem you to need. We deserve to be treated like people, not cattle in a third class open train whom they regard as if a "bereavement" to our parents.

Have any views, suggestions or comments to put on the web site (we just got confirmation that we have received it today, so it will be starting to go up in the next few days), please feel free to pass them on. "Nothing about US without US".

With Thanks on behalf of Aspies and Cousins on the Island of Ireland,

Damon Matthew Wise,

I don't want to get into naming names, but I have seen hard evidence that Aspire are refusing membership, and even refunding payments made to Adults with Asperger Syndrome.

The verbal (nobody can prove it) reason being given is that they are a an organization for Parents, and the recent deletion of several pages of their website would seem to support that statement.

In principle I am happy with that.

They claimed to represent us, yet never consulted us, they never treated us as equals and never showed a shred of understanding or respect for us as autonomous adults. This was percolating down not only into the way Society perceived adults with AS, but also more subtly into the way Adults with AS in Ireland learned to percieve themselves.

BUT there are a couple of other problems now:

a) The are still claiming to represent our needs and attitudes at National level, without a mandate, let alone consultation (not that they EVER consulted us). Which means that Adults with not only have no voice, but are being formally and actively misrepresented in the formation of National Policy that directly affects us.
b) One of the people refused membership is also the parent of a child with AS.

Now, my take is this.

I already have a case awaiting mediation through the Equality Tribunal with Aspire concerning pre-existing discrimination. So far not one person from Aspire has (as would accord with the intent of the Equality Tribunal, in general) made the slightest attempt to approach either myself of my disabled rights advocate and discuss what they might be able to do to remedy the situation, as equals would and should.

This, in itself, has served to convince me that Aspire will never be prepared or equipped to truly meet the needs of individuals with AS in terms of representation at National Level.

In my opinion they are at fault in misrepresenting their position on this for so many years in public and at national level, as well as in claiming to represent us without consultation while internally discriminating against us.

But we are also to blame for our own complacency in letting this happen by not seeking to find, or form our own effective representative organization to to give us a voice at national level, and to promote greater understanding of who we are to everybody.

I was under a certain amount of pressure (not least from within myself) to stop talking and actually do this myself, but frankly, I think I may have torn a ligament, just pulling the knives out of my back from within the Adult Aspie community, never mind from the parents. I had a daisy chain of breakdowns last years because of it.

I have come to the (mildly obvious) realisation that I cannot do this alone...and, (harder for me, as the Aspergic child of serious abuse, raised to believe that whatever else it is ALWAYS my responsibility) the realisation that if I have to do it alone like that I shouldn't bother at all.

Bitter? You are damn right I am, but I must also say that I have had tremendous support from some people, even the most unexpected. Just not enough for me to hold my own, alone at that level AND keep my head on my shoulders.

People with Disabilities Ireland http://www.pwdi.ie are happy to include us as equal and autonomous adults. For now, I would suggest that as the best option until a real organisation is formed.

I know there are things in the pipeline, but early days.

I will take the Equality Tribunal Case against Aspire as far as necessary, and I will support and subsequent cases that may arise.

But after that, sorry, I need to have a life, and my interests have moved to other areas.

Gaye

I cant say I was surprised to read your posts Mechanima.Aspire have been disappointing always in their response to us adult aspies. As for the membership, well at the risk of wasting 60 euros I will have a go at joining and we will see what happens . . .as a parent of and an aspie myself. It could be interesting. . .

Hi Tigerlily,

(BTW, we must do the "West Cork thing" even if it's only you and me...I LOVE it down there).

It'll be interesting to see what kind of response you get from them.

M

Aspire hasn't changed. Does anyone know of an effective support group for adult aspies in Ireland? I recently moved back here and I'm thinking that I'll have to move away again it's so bad (and I REALLY don't need more stress).

Got. It. In. One.

I got diagnosed in May and I emailed them twice to ask what services they offer but got no reply whatsoever. Think it's best to stick to the smaller charity organisations where they're really interested in helping the people and not for self-gain.

(I might have the wrong organisation, but that itself is symptomatic of this whole charity empire-building nonsense, but...)

I heard a very eloquent spokesperson on RTE radio, who mentioned (during a long, and interesting, interview) that they desperately needed some computing experience and help with website design. So I got her email, phone and name off their own website and phoned her. It was horrible - I had inadvertently phoned the "other" half of the newly split charity offering to help set up the new, rival half. The new rival half had gained control of the name and the "other" half were squatting the website. There was total poison between them.

As it happens, Cork Association for Autism (CAA) has some partnership projects with the HSE that deal with adult autism. I don't know how national the intitiative is, or how CAA relates nationally.

Have any of you guys come across a good support group or service here in Ireland for adults with asperger's?

Am I correct in saying that there seems to be a big black hole of nothingness here in that regard?

I phoned a well known educational body today, enquiring about a training course which aims to produce personel who will support special needs in the employment area.

Great, I thought this might lend itself to some specialised study further down the line, towards support services for asperger folks. My Hubby is AS and has never found the right employment area or support so that is my motivation. Besides that I have extensive professional experience working with adults who have learning disabilities so I thought that I should look into this further. But to my suprise, I was told by the college tutor that there is no demand for this service? What? Where is the voice of those folk in Ireland that need to be represented and need services? Asperger folk are being let down by service providers. This should change!
Anyone thoughts on this?
I think that there has to be some need for support services for adults with AS who are seeking to get a job o r else manage better in the workplace.

Check out http://aspbriggairl.com a new website for asperger couples in Ireland.

well, yay! i'm single, now I feel doubly inadequate. anyone know a good adult aspie support group?

Cork & Kerry: http://www.corkassociationforautism.com ... treach.htm provides Outreach Support Service for adults with Asperger's Syndrome / high functioning autism.