“Not being able to speak is not the same as not having something to say”
but most people think the opposite.
To be included, empowered, and able to take a real part in decisions about their own lives, autistic people need effective ways to communicate. Legislation supports their right of access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Autreach IT exists to promote access to ICT by
- raising awareness of rights to ICT under the law
- among autistic people
- among their care providers
- among the public at large
- demonstrating the effectiveness of ICT
- to autistic people
- to their care providers
- to the public at large
- employing autistic people to develop ICT services
- for autistic people
- for their care providers
- for the public at large
In particular, Autreach IT is
- campaigning and consulting with government and regulatory authorities on codes of practice and key briefing documents for decision makers
- carrying out pilot studies of ICT provision according to the principles of CBPR (Community Based Participatory Research):
- one introducing and monitoring the use of VOCAs among non-speaking people in a small residential care setting
- one introducing computers into a similar residential setting
- developing a website or portal for use in care homes and elsewhere which
- training and familiarising autistic service users in computer use
- training and familiarising staff in computer use
- training autistic service users who show an aptitude in how to support staff and other service users in computer use
- negotiating fair terms for service users providing ongoing computer support
