Okay let me briefly tell of my situation. I was in supported living for two years where none of the staff were trained in autism. They have now started training and taken in more autistic residents as I was the first. It never worked out - I had to live with a schizophrenic and others who were not on the spectrum, I could not relate to anyone and it made me ill being there.
What I do know is that they took all our welfare money to stay there. I am better off now living on my own with two hours daily support from local autism community care.
So I am wondering why there would be a negative view on an autism initiative? I would have thought that a dedicated service for people like us would be a positive thing particularly if it helped with housing.
Of course like anything it would depend on how it was run as we do read and hear a lot about charities whose main aim is really about profiteering.
i have a very negative view on autism initiatives as i am low functioning autistic and have complex classic autism [it was severe at the time i was assessed]; autism initiatives took a dim view on my autism when i got assessed by them,yet they claimed to support the autism spectrum, ASD isnt just another term for 'high functioning autism' or 'aspergers',you either support ASD or not in my opinion.
im supported by creative support now,im on constant 1-1 support day and night in my own apartment in a supported living facility owned by them,and creative support has always tried to suggest they are autism friendly, the last care home i lived in was owned by them and it was supposed to be autism specialist,but they had no understanding of my autism differences and difficulties,nor of my learning disability,not long after i was kicked out [because of severe challenging behavior related to my LFA none the less]the home was shut down for being unsuitable for autistic adults.
their autism training that they give staff sucks,its very basic stuff,ive complained about the staff where im living now not understanding even the tiniest bit about any level of autism,and said i want them to be put on extra training as im fed up of having issues with them, but the manager said shes got to wait till the 'financial year' or something like that.
if a company is supposedly for autistic people,it isnt necessarily a good company,i actually prefer mencap for their support and understanding,they understand my autism presentation much better as they only support autists with learning disability.
