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Autism in Parliament

from the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA) is a formal cross-party backbench group of MPs and Peers who share an interest in autism and Asperger syndrome. It was set up in February 2000. Its … Read more

Autism and Austerity

From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace  “We know that LAs [local authorities] have had their budgets slashed and are making cuts which are impacting on adults with autism and families living with autism. Families are being told that they will … Read more

Autism and Hate crime

From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace In 2013, Labour MP Ian Mearns introduced a Ten-Minute Rule Bill to require the police to maintain a register of hate crimes committed against people with learning difficulties, learning disabilities and autism. During the … Read more

Nothing about autistic people without autistic people

From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace The trade union movement supports the demand of the disabled people’s movement: ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’. Many trade unions have structures for disabled members; if so, it may be useful to invite and … Read more

How workplaces can create difficulties for autistic workers

From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace Workplaces and employers make work difficult for autistic workers for the following reasons: Discrimination: Treating the autistic worker differently from, less favourably than, others. Bullying by management, including ridicule and physical/ verbal abuse. Lack … Read more

Autism is a trade union issue

From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace Autism is an issue for trade unions, because: Most autistic people can work, including in ‘normal’ (whatever that may mean!) workplaces. Where adults with autism do not work, it is often because working conditions … Read more

Autism: What your union can do

From the TUC Handbook, Autism in the Workplace: Be aware that your membership (nationally, in your region, branch, workplace, etc.) is neurologically diverse, even if no-one has identified themselves to you as being on the autistic spectrum or having another neurological condition. Your … Read more

TUC ‘Autism in the workplace’ handbook

Attached is the handbook for trade unionists on ‘Autism in the Workplace’, written by me and published by the Trades Union Congress in 2014. This should be useful to all trade union reps and activists both in representing individual members … Read more

An Autism Timeline

From the TUC handbook, ‘Autism in the Workplace’. 1910: Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the term ‘autism’, derived from the Greek word autós (αὐτός, meaning self). Bleuler was researching the symptoms of schizophrenia and identified a ‘withdrawal’ present in some patients as autism.  … Read more

An Autism Glossary

From the TUC handbook, ‘Autism in the workplace’. Asperger syndrome  An autism spectrum condition that affects the way a person communicates and relates to others. People with Asperger syndrome usually have fewer problems with language than those with other forms of autism, and … Read more

Autism: Useful Websites

From the TUC handbook, ‘Autism in the workplace’. All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism  Autism Europe Autism Hub (list of autism blogs)  Autistic UK  DANDA (Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association)  National Autistic Society

Speaking Out about Autism at Work

This is the speech I gave at TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference 2013 in proposing RMT’s resolution on Autism in the Workplace. Andrew Beck has Asperger syndrome, an autistic spectrum condition. He was a golf club greenkeeper for 13 years with … Read more

Horseplay

This poem is about the murder of 18-year-old, gay, autistic student Steven Simpson – and the appalling miscarriage of justice when his killer was prosecuted. You can read a news report giving more information here; and the resolution adopted by … Read more

Knives. Forks. Spoons. Obviously.

knivesforksspoons

Knives. Forks. Spoons. Obviously. What other arrangement could it possibly be? There’s a reason that cutlery drawers have three distinct spaces So we can place our utensils in their correct places It’s forks in the middle, knives and spoons to … Read more