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
Bodymind: A term used to challenge the idea the body and mind are experienced separately (Descartes). Written in various ways, Bodymind or Body-mind, this usage foregrounds the understanding that experiences... 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
Stimpunk combines “stimming” + “punk” to evoke open and proud stimming, resistance to neurotypicalization, and the DIY culture of punk, disabled, and neurodivergent communities. Instead of hiding our stims, we... live in Dripping Springs, named after the springs at the Milk House Branch of the Edwards Aquifer, a gathering place for the Tonkawa people. - In addition to speaking differentOur friends and allies at Randimals have a saying, What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world.Randimals We agree. Randimals are made up of two different animals... 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
What I have always been hoping to accomplish is the creation of community.Community is magic. Community is power. Community is resistance.Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Visibility-First-Person-Stories-Twenty-First-ebook/dp/B082ZQBL98/ https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Visibility-Adapted-Young-Adults-ebook/dp/B08VFT4R9T/.... - Don’t be TRAAAAASH (transphobic, racist, ableist
able·ism /ˈābəˌlizəm/ nounA system of assigning value to people's bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normalcy, productivity, desirability, intelligence, excellence, and fitness. These constructed ideas are deeply..., 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
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.
Sit in chairs or on the floor, pace, lie on the floor, rock, flap, spin
I don’t know who invented the phrase “special interest.” Probably some researcher. Autistic people don’t really love the term because the term “special” has become tied so closely with terms..., move around, come in and out of the room.
This is an invitation for you to consider what your bodymind
This is an invitation to remind yourself to remember and to affirm that your bodymind has needs and that those needs deserve to be met, that your bodymind is valuable and worthy, that you deserve to be here, …, to belong.
Against Ableism & White Supremacy: Disability Justice is Our Liberation
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 (IFLIdentity-first language places the disability-related word first in a phrase. People who prefer identity-first language for themselves often argue that their disability is an important part of who they are,...). We are autistic
Autistic ways of being are human neurological variants that can not be understood without the social model of disability.If you are wondering whether you are Autistic, spend time amongst Autistic people, online and offline. If..., not people with autismAutistic ways of being are human neurological variants that can not be understood without the social model of disability.If you are wondering whether you are Autistic, spend time amongst Autistic people, online and offline. If.... We’re disabledThe label "disabled" means so much to me. It means I have community. It means I have rights. It means I can be proud. It means I can affirm myself..., not people with disabilities. Most people are taught to use the opposite, person-first languageIdentity-first language places the disability-related word first in a phrase. People who prefer identity-first language for themselves often argue that their disability is an important part of who they are,..., 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 NeurodiVentureNeurodiVenture : 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 NeurodiVentures create safe spaces for groups....
NeurodiVenture : an inclusive non-hierarchicalThe belief in the existence and relevance of social hierarchies must be suspended.The Beauty of Collaboration at Human Scale: Timeless patterns of human limitations The extent to which a community... organisation operated by neurodivergent people that provides a safe and nurturing environment for divergent thinking, creativity, exploration, and collaborative niche construction
NeurodiVentures | Autistic CollaborationPositive Niche Construction--practice of differentiating instruction for the neurodiverse brainNeurodiversity in the Classroom Positive niche construction is a strengths-based approach to educating students with disabilities. Reimagining Inclusion with Positive Niche....
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
...every disability has invisible components.Invisible - Documentary about 6 disabled women activists (audio described and closed captioned) - YouTube Note: The following was written by Ryan in 2017. Ryan now..., ethnicity, sex characteristics, genderDue both to their ability to denaturalize social norms and to their neurological differences, autistic individuals can offer novel insights into gender as a social process. Examining gender from an... 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 communitiesWhat I have always been hoping to accomplish is the creation of community.Community is magic. Community is power. Community is resistance.Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Visibility-First-Person-Stories-Twenty-First-ebook/dp/B082ZQBL98/ https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Visibility-Adapted-Young-Adults-ebook/dp/B08VFT4R9T/... 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
Autistic man Freestone Wilson suggested in the 1990s that autistic people are functioning as the “miners’ canaries” of civilisation. When the air in the mine is poisoned we do not... 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 narrativeWhen we successfully reframe public discourse, we change the way the public sees the world. We change what counts as common sense. Because language activates frames, new language is required....
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 privacyLiving Privately. - Building and maintaining a sense of what to show in each social environment. - Discovering and creating new environments in which we can show more of ourselves. - Assessing where you can grow...: 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 safetyPsychological 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... 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, marginalizedFor me this space of radical openness is a margin a profound edge. Locating oneself there is difficult yet necessary. It is not a “safe” place. One is always at..., 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
There are three types of reading: eye reading, ear reading, and finger reading.The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child's Confidence and Love of Learning Most schools and...,