For the record, Autreach is a loose network of like minded autistic activists here in the UK and abroad with

ongoing connection and sharing of views. Autreach IT is my bit of this network - a social enterprise offering IT services run by autistic people for the autistic people who need them most see www.autreachit.co.uk for more
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Why has Information Technology including Internet become a Human Rights issue?
United Nations has declared it a human rights violation to withhold Internet access www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/06/internet-ahuman-right/ see also the Cisco Connected World Technology Report (CCWTR) www.cisco.com/assets/sol/ent/business_trend/bor derless/ccwtr/CCWTR-infographic.html
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UN
Article 21: - Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, including by:
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Much legislative support from both this and the previous government
Valuing people now (DOH 2009) Addressing the issues for people with complex needs is really about embedding the principles of personalisation within all aspects of planning, commissioning and delivery of support services. It is also about recognising that the very particular support needs of an individual will mean very individualised support packages, including systems for facilitating meaningful two-way communication.
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Award .D. (2009) Ratification of the UNCRPD: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Raidiowaves https://www.radiowaves.co.uk/story/43493/title/ratificationoftheuncrpdunitednationsconventionontherightsofperson swithdisabilites Accessed 9/10/2011 Blackstone .S. (1992) Rethinking the basics. Augmentative Communication News 5(3) Care Services improvement partnership (2007) Safeguarding Adults with Learning Disabilities http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CF0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.hull.ac.uk%2Ffas s%2Fpdf%2FSafeguarding%2520Adults%2520Report.pdf&ei=k7eRTtOuFIi1hAfJ653rDw&usg=AFQjCNG_P2Evzq0lsoW4C DjRZB1xR1N_tA&sig2=-WpBkulyenT3j9ZST8uh7Q Accessed 9/10/2011 Department of Health (2010) Equality and excellence: Liberating the NHS. Department of Health http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_117353 Accessed 9/10/2011 Department of Health (2009) Valuing people now: a new three-year strategy for people with learning disabilities Making it happen for everyone http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093377 Accessed 9/10/2011 Department of Health (2007) Services for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour or mental health needs http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_080129 Accessed 9/10/2011 Office of the Communication Champion (2010) Augmentative and alternative communication: a report on provision for children and young people in England, September 2010 http://www.herefordshirelink.org/files/downloads/page/2010/12/augmentative_and_alternative_communication_a_r ep_17952.doc Accessed 9/10/2011 NHS Choices (2010) Specialised Services National Definitions Set. NHS Choices http://www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/documents/index/document_category_id:26 United Nations (2006) United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml Accessed 9/10/2011
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Why?
and Why it specially matters if speech is too challenging. Not being able to speak does not mean not being able to think, or contribute, or enjoy oneself

Not being able to speak does not mean not being able to think,
see Richard Mill s Introduction to this talk for some of the evidence also please see www.scientificamerican.com/article....al-ofautistic-kids and www.autismandcomputing.org.uk
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Background understanding of autism in this talk in autism there is a different distribution of processing resource N such that switching from one interest to another is painful/ shocking or at least challenging - the steeper the attention tunnel formation tends to be, the harder it is to shift processing resource to a new focus and the harder it is to handle sudden extraneous events. In our view this pattern, with intensive deep absorption and potential super levels of local processing activity alternating with confusion and perhaps cognitive defeat, underlies the social issues in autism and the linguistic ones as well as the often found sensory and coordination challenges. This is based on the interest model of mind I proposed in my PhD Language and Interests (UCL 1986) which makes sense of a wide range of research results re cognition and perception across the whole spectrum of humanity. please see www.autismandcomputing.org.uk for varied supporting arguments 8

Why does anyone like IT?

it spares so much effort it gives so many opportunities to develop and exchange ideas its pace, and its time and place in our lives can be controlled it makes communication so easy

Why do autistic people like IT?

it spares so much effort it gives so many opportunities to develop and exchange ideas its pace and its time and place in our lives can be controlled it makes communication so easy PLUS

communication is the key to unblocking issues with society

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IT plus Internet = Access

Access to current culture: arts, sports, politics encyclopaedic information communication family, friends; key people, bureaucrats, MPs, social workers, etc social networks armchair commerce
bargains
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poor people worldwide benefit most

education opportunity scope connection employment

most autistic adults are poor

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Why does anyone like touch screen handheld devices?

all the above PLUS portable personal intimate immediate shareable

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Why do autistic people like touch screen handheld devices?

As above, very keenly felt AND communication is the key to unblocking issues with society

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Why do people who don t use speech like these devices?

Possibly all the above PLUS Voice Output Communication Aids - VOCAs non-speech options
creativity, play, music, video
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http://carlysvoice.com/ - changing the world of autism

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http://carlysvoice.com/
Carly s Voice changing the world of autism

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Why people say they need these devices

on tap entertainment on tap connection with friends, family, and the levers of power on tap sharing and communicating with people near and far on tap recording
video, audio

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why people who don t speak need these devices

all the above PLUS equal footing, well, relatively equal communication potential not speaking does not mean not having something to say!

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Some of Drew Goldsmith s videos

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfOgXSCNp-g http://vimeo.com/20504935 www.pbs.org/pov/voicescape/2011/drewmorton-goldsmith-middleton-wis.php SEE ALSO for more by Drew and several others www.modelaircraftmuseum.com/apps/videos/s how/12786381-something-about-us
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Being treated as an equal

texts emails voice output communication aids

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The Alternative: typically, people who don t speak

are meagrely entertained are minimally connected with others have little to share have no means of communicating effectively have no access to the levers of power

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 Individually they tend to be seen as idiots collectively they tend to be= seen as disposable: all cost no benefit

https://ballastexistenz.wordpress.com/ commercially they are seen as both a source of funds and a drain on those funds sometimes a spectacular drain!
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sanctions?
Few and rarely enforced legal penalties for failure Costly alternatives of angry and unfulfilled people see NAO 2009 report www.nao.org.uk/publications/0809/autism.aspx and Knapp 2007 www.autismspeaks.org.uk/document_downloads /Reports/economic_costs_of_autism_knapp_rom eo_beecham.pdf
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cost in cash
two staff for every outing secure setting over all high staffing levels replacement of materials staff turnover empty beds

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cost in Quality of Life

exclusion depersonalisation stupefaction neglect abuse

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what could the benefits be?

a sense of

personal

efficacy

opportunities for creativity and play

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 a sense of personal efficacy freedom from boredom opportunities for creativity and play

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what could the benefits be?

opportunities for discovery and lifelong learning

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 recognition as a real person, who can be understood ability to be socially useful

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.capacity to join the ongoing

discussions that constantly reshape the social world

.chances to connect with other

people on an equal footing

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 service providers have the satisfaction of doing their jobs properly personal emotional rewards of seeing people fulfilled and engaged with evidently valuable concerns and projects save money

everyone will be happier?

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excerpt from CBS 60 minutes

Autism Apps produced by Karen Sughrue

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Thanks due
Too many to say but, specifically for this talk Wendy Keay Bright for Reactickles and Somantics clips www.reactickles.org & www.somantics.org Saskia Baron for getting us the CBC Apps DVD Charlotte Stace for research, advice and feedback to for a small grant and much support to Autreach IT
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