This is the first major event initiated and led by the autistic
community in Singapore. The forum is a pay-as-you-wish, no-frills autism
event focused on providing self-sustaining solutions for adult autistics
after their caregivers have passed on.
The
forum welcomes all members of the autism community who are interested
in and/or developing solutions for adult autistics. Members of the
public who are interested in autism issues may also participate.
This forum is supported by the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) and Pathlight School. Member of Parliament and President of ARC, Ms. Denise Phua, will be giving an opening speech.
Representatives
of the local autistic community will be invited to join a panel to
share how caretakers can form an equal partnership with them (i.e.
Inclusive Equality) to create sustainable solutions, so that they can
continue to thrive even after their caretakers have passed on. Inclusive
Equality is an equal partnership between autistic and NeuroTypicals of
mutual accommodation and support. It calls for both the elimination of
discrimination against autistics as well as autistics empowering
themselves to change their own lives. It encourages autistics to ask for
accommodation, but not privileges. It believes that if autistics want
to be treated equally, then they cannot use autism as an excuse to
justify bad attitudes and unacceptable behaviour.
Panel 1: Growing Up with Inclusion (focusing on school aged children)
Eric
will kick off this panel with a short talk introducing the concept of
inclusive equality and why inclusiveness alone is insufficient. The
panellists will then discuss the issues relating to growing up with
autism, including how we can bring the concept of inclusion into real
life.
Panel 2: Facing Adulthood (focusing on youth)
Autistics
often lack the support they need to develop their self-awareness, inner
strength and wisdom. Without these, they are not ready to face a harsh
world where nasty people bully, manipulate and exploit them. Eric will
give a short talk about how autistics can develop the inner qualities
that allow them to thrive despite the difficulties they face.
Panel 3: Sustainable Solutions (focusing on older adults)
The panellists will discuss key concerns of the autism community that can include:
- Substitute Caregiving:
Finding ways to delegate and replace personal caregiver duties without
compromising the care for autistics (e.g. forming an advisory committee
of trusted people to advise on life decisions, moving the autistic to an
affordable overseas care centre)
- Investment Solutions:
Finding ways to provide for and protect autistics (e.g. community
farms, adult care centres, social enterprises, insurance policies,
annuities) in the long-term
- Sustainable Success:
Finding ways for autistics to achieve their success that also help to
provide for their own living expenses as much as possible (e.g. teaching
autistics how to run a farm to grow food, starting a robot-proof
business)
- Living with Dignity: Finding ways to
help autistics feel valued, positive and happy (e.g. how to let
autistics pursue their harmless interests instead of pressuring them to
do chores)
- Building Careers: Finding ways to
develop talents and create careers for autistics beyond the formal
educational system (i.e. alternatives to paper qualifications and
climbing the corporate ladder)
- Personal Development:
Finding ways for autistics to master advanced life skills, cultivate
personal responsibility, develop resilience, form meaningful
relationships and emerge as future leaders.
- Combating Discrimination:
Finding ways to bypass or dispel the discrimination that is limiting
autistic employability and potential (which includes addressing
employers' concerns rather than trying to compel or shame them to hire
autistics)
- Making New Deals: Finding ways for
autistics and caregivers to help each other (e.g. fund scholarships for
autistics who serve a bond to help the autism community)
Building
on the concept of Inclusive Equality, Eric will speak briefly about the
need to find sustainable solutions that go beyond mere survival. He
will introduce some out-of-the-box ideas that can potentially transform
the autism community, including helping those with intellectual
disabilities and complex special needs.
For more details, refer to the official event page on iautistic.com