Catalogue Number
NMLH.2024.53.1
Object Name
Labels
People
Autscape
Description
This item is comprised of: a white name badge that says 'Chen' and is adorned with stickers. The communication system is a set of four cards with text on them. Each has a swirl in the top right corner. They vary as follows:
Red - 'No initiation. Please do not initiate interaction with me'.
Yellow - 'Prior permission. Please do not initiate unless I gave you permission to approach me on yellow badge'.
White - 'Neutral. I am able to regulate my own interaction'.
Green - 'Please initiate. I would like to socialise but have difficulty initiating. Please initiate with me.'
This communications system was created for use at Autscape, a conference run by and for autistic people. Some autistic people have additional communication needs, and the communication system allows these to be conveyed to other attendees so each attendee's boundaries are respected. The system ranges from not wanting to be spoken to at all to encouraging people to initiate conversations. Making people's needs and preferences easily identifiable in this way is also important for people who struggle to read body language.
Autscape describes itself as "a retreat from the demands of mainstream society and an escape to autistic-friendly space for a few days". Autscape "functions as a retreat, an educational conference, a social gathering, and an opportunity for advocacy and networking".
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