Dublin at Last!
Welcome back to the Audacious Aspie! Today is our last post about Resources in Ireland, than we’ll be moving on. What other resources do they have, and are they as storied as the Irish Autism Society? We’ll find out. Please welcome our new contestant, aspire (Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland)! An Association made specifically for those on the aspergers syndrome! (for us, the people here in the West, it is a different tail. The CDC had trouble comprehending us AND autism, so they just gave up and pretended that aspergers does not exist. Trying to fit us in two neat boxes: autistic and not autistic.) Let's go see what they have to offer.
They offer support and, will, you know the other one. Pretty much routine at this point. They have been doing all that in Ireland since 1995 (the year my families first computer was made, incidentally. A special place in my heart, it is). Aspire believes (correctly, I think we can all agree) that people with asperger's syndrome are capable of doing amazing things. To see this through, aspire works to “increase understanding” (Paragraph 2), while also ensuring that those with asperger's syndrome have the same (access, bonus points to them for putting that in) to opportunities as everyone else.
Just like everyone has the chance to go through the red door here. Though they should really paint it black. Someone should tell the Rolling Stones about this.
Their mission: To boldly go where no man has gone before. Oops, sorry, wrong one. Ahh, here it is: to provide “supports to people with asperger's syndrome that will help them to fulfill their goals” (Paragraph 2). To provide information to, will, you know. And finally “to promote understanding in the community” (Paragraph 2). And to go where no man has gone before. But not only do they have a mission, they also have a vision: a world were people with aspergers have “the same opportunities to work, socialize and participate as everyone else” (Paragraph 3). In other words, treated equally.
What are their values? Will, you probably won't be too surprised, but they are “inclusion, equality, promoting understanding and achieving aspirations” (Paragraph 4). Gotta say, not bad values, not bad at all. They even have a bookstore, where they sell, will, books. Now sadly, they do not sell books outside Ireland, But if your in Ireland and looking for books on asperger's syndrome, than your in luck. Aspire has adult books, books for young people, children books, books for parents and books for professionals. Quite the collection if your interested.
Chose this picture not because it looks like a book store, but because it looks like a horror scene: IT might pop up and start scaring people. Always a good book store image.
Will, this has been our trip through the UK and Ireland, as will as America. And quite the bit of supports we found in all three! What's next? Will, you’ll just have to see (yes I know what I’m going to do next! I just...have to check, that's all. Yeaaah, that's it.). But until then, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
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