What is the Autism Friendly Alliance, Anyway?

Autism Friendly (AF) is a free new program to accomplish two very important goals, and those who choose to be a positive part of the group comprise the Autism Friendly Alliance. The Autism Friendly program, and Alliance, is a not-for-profit, grassroots effort started Lorin Neikirk. Neikirk is an individual on the spectrum, the single parent of a child on the spectrum, and a writer, autism consultant & advocate, and author/illustrator of educational and other books.

In brief, AF helps companies (*which includes, but is not limited to, retail establishments, corporations, non-profit organizations, and hiring firms), and people on the spectrum, by sending a visual cue to those individuals with autism, and their families, with a recognizable logo. This logo can be used by establishments and other companies who are "autism friendly" in accordance with the AF process. The AF program is free to companies, who use the logo and AF status on the honors system. Consumers with autism are encouraged to nominate companies* that they feel qualify, and suggest other companies that they feel would benefit from a new and improved level of awareness.

The AF program helps companies by letting consumers with autism know that they are welcome, and accepted in their establishment. (''Consumers with autism'' includes adult consumers with autism, as well as families with children who have autism. Consumers with autism can also include other family members of individuals with autism, such as siblings of an adult on the autism spectrum, etc.) It is very common that consumers with autism feel judged and even stigmatized. Sometimes the company* unintentionally says or does something that shows a consumer with autism that they do not understand autism, and that is often enough to cause a customer to decide to not spend their money at the establishment. Sometimes because they do not feel welcome, and other times because it simply isn't a positive experience. On other occasions, other patrons at the establishment pass judgment and can leave lasting impressions on your customers.

Other situations involve unintentional forms of discrimination against people with autism, based on their lack of understanding. For instance, a non-profit agency may turn away person with Aspergers, who is looking for help, because they do not understand the ways that they are discriminating against the individual. Reporting such discrimination is a difficult process for many people on the spectrum, especially those without support systems, but it is important that a public record be made of the incident so that attention can be brought to the situation, especially when the agency is one which receives federal funds and grants. These situations are not those which suffer from loss of revenue dollars from the ''consumer with autism'', although they are organizations which may have a negative impact as a result of their inattention to incidents, and not addressing complaints of discrimination.

This blog is a branch of the Autism Friendly Alliance blog located here. The Needs Improvement List is for people who wish to give information about an establishment, organization or other company that they feel would benefit from a new and improved level of understanding!