Let’s make space for each other!

Collective Community Care: Dreaming of Futures in Autistic Mutual Aid

Before we begin gatherings, physical or online, we affirm our bodyminds and acknowledge the land our bodyminds occupy and the indigenous people who were here before us. We pledge to maintain learner safety and harassment-free participation.

In brief:

• We believe we should all move in our space in whatever way is most comfortable for our bodyminds. Please use this space as you need or prefer.
• Several Stimpunks live in Dripping Springs, named after the springs at the Milk House Branch of the Edwards Aquifer, a gathering place for the Tonkawa people, who were here before us.
• In addition to speaking different languages, we have different neurotypes with different communication styles and norms of sociality. In the case of misunderstanding, assume good intention.
• We pledge to act and interact in ways that contribute to an open, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and healthy community.
• Don’t be TRAAAAASH (transphobic, racist, ableist, abusive, anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, anti-Semitic, sexist, homophobic).
• No proselytizing.
• Maintain learner safety and remember what it is like to be a new contributor.

Bodymind Affirmation

Please use this space as you need or prefer.

Against Ableism & White Supremacy: Disability Justice is Our Liberation

Grounding Song

We like to play a grounding song to start off meetings. “My Friend the Forest” by Nils Frahm is a favorite.

Land Acknowledgement

Several Stimpunks live in Dripping Springs, named after the springs at the Milk House Branch of the Edwards Aquifer, a gathering place for the Tonkawa people.

Language Acknowledgement

As an international company, we interact with users and fellow Automatticians whose first language is different than our own, and by improving our communication, we can improve the work we do. We avoid slang terms and idioms that may result in more confusion than clarity, and offer to explain and rephrase our words when needed. In the case of a misunderstanding, we always assume good intentions, and imagine how new possibilities can emerge.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Automattic

In addition to speaking different languages, we have different neurotypes with different communication styles and norms of sociality. In the case of misunderstanding, assume good intention.

Also, Stimpunks uses identity-first language (IFL). We are autistic, not people with autism. We’re disabled, not people with disabilities. Most people are taught to use the opposite, person-first language, despite the overwhelming preference of Autistic, Disabled, Deaf, and Blind people for IFL.

When it comes to the language of identity, we respect personal preference.

Covenant

Stimpunks is a NeurodiVenture.

NeurodiVenture : an inclusive non-hierarchical organisation operated by neurodivergent people that provides a safe and nurturing environment for divergent thinking, creativity, exploration, and collaborative niche construction.

NeurodiVentures | Autistic Collaboration

All Stimpunks agree to abide by the contributor covenant in our spaces.

We as members, contributors, and leaders pledge to make participation in our community a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, visible or invisible disability, ethnicity, sex characteristics, gender identity and expression, level of experience, education, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, caste, color, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.

We pledge to act and interact in ways that contribute to an open, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and healthy community.

Contributor Covenant

A tldr one-liner of the contributor covenant that often appears in the codes of conduct of online communities is, “Don’t be TRAASH.”

Don’t be TRAASH (transphobic, racist, ableist, abusive, sexist, homophobic).

At Stimpunks, we add three more As to TRAAAAASH for:

• Anti-Black
• Anti-Indigenous
• Anti-Semitic

Jewish, Black, and Indigenous people are canary populations alerting us to the times and history.

Don’t Be TRAAAAASH (transphobic, racist, ableist, abusive, anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, anti-Semitic, sexist, homophobic).

Another good one-liner: “No proselytizing.” Consult this article and infographic from Chrissy Stroop on anti-proselytizing principles.

Our full Covenant is here.

Community Norms

We follow this advice from Human Restoration Project.

Express yourself: Be open in conversations, be willing to ask honest questions and engage with integrity. Be willing to disrupt and push the narrative.
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Respond with positive intent: Avoid actions that would harm or hurt others, and ensure that all members of the community are invited to your discussions.

Listen and learn: Continue to remain open to new ideas, allowing yourself to hear full perspectives. Create a supportive community: Help prop each other up and build off each other’s ideas. Provide everyone with goodwill.

Channel joy through struggle: A lot of the work we do is difficult, especially in schools. Find time for joy, fun, and the thrill of learning.

Respect each other’s privacy: Please do not share any messages, photos, or videos without permission of those involved.

Learner Safety

Maintain learner safety and remember what it is like to be a new contributor.

Psychological safety is a condition in which you feel (1) included, (2) safe to learn, (3) safe to contribute, and (4) safe to challenge the status quo—all without fear of being embarrassed, marginalized, or punished in some way.

All human beings have the same innate need: We long to belong.

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety: Defining the Path to Inclusion and Innovation

The moral imperative to grant learner safety is to act first by encouraging the learner to learn.

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety (p. 45)

Further Reading