Today is International women’s day….lets celebrate the fantastic women behind NDSA!!!

Camel

Camel

Well-known member
Good morning everyone,

Today is International Women’s Day.

This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate and give thanks to all the fantastic women behind NDSA.

So, a huge “thank you” to Marie, Marta, Bethany, UnicornSpoon, Sophie (my mentor), all the mentors and all the amazing women supporting NDSA. (Apologies if I’ve not mentioned you by name, we value all of you). We owe you a lot and are grateful for the work you do to help and support our community.😁

Best wishes to all the women of NDSA.

Wade
 
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Hi UnicornSpoon,

Thank you for your kind words. Compared to you, I do nothing…..I just turn up and use the platform and services all of you created from scratch. Just incredible!

It struck me this morning when I was reminded that it was International Women’s Day that, as far as I’m aware, NDSA is an organisation which is led by women, international women, and that you and your amazing work should be recognised and celebrated.

It is sadly a truth in this world that the tireless work that women do goes largely unrecognised, undervalued and most definitely unremunerated. It could be argued that International Women’s Day is something of a fig leaf offered by a patriarchal society to cover for this truth. I hope it does stop and make us think how inequality does still exist and resolve to do something about it. It is also a chance for us to say “thank you!” we recognise and appreciate your invaluable contribution.

Meanwhile, you should celebrate the day that you richly deserve! Where would any of us be without you?


Wade
 
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Hi UnicornSpoon,

Thank you for your kind words. Compared to you, I do nothing…..I just turn up and use the platform and services all of you created from scratch. Just incredible!

It struck me this morning, when I was reminded that it was International Women’s Day that, as far as I’m aware, NDSA is an organisation which is led by women, international women, and that you and your amazing work should be recognised and celebrated.

It is sadly a truth in this world that the tireless work that women do goes largely unrecognised, undervalued and most definitely under remunerated. It could be argued that International Women’s Day is something of a fig leaf offered by a patriarchal society to cover for this truth. I hope it does stop and make us think how inequality does still exist and resolve to do something about it. It is also a chance for us to say “thank you!” we recognise and appreciate your invaluable contribution

Meanwhile, you should celebrate the day that you richly deserve! Where would any of us be without you?


Wade
 
Wade you legend!

You're right though, women do a lot behind the scenes that goes unnoticed way too often. Planning and managing, packing lunches and ironing shirts, taking care of children and running households... It warms my heart to see you recognise and understand and appreciate that.

Let me be clear though, you also do so much for the NDSA. Your Glossop meetups help fill gaps in autism support in Glossop, your voice speaks up and calls for changes when sudden surprises upset you, and your wit and intelligence is really evident in every post you make.

Support and celebrate women, but never understate your own influence on the world, the importance of your presence, and the power of your mind!

Thank you,
UnicornSpoon 🦄🥄💚
 
UnicornSpoon said:
Wade you legend!

You're right though, women do a lot behind the scenes that goes unnoticed way too often. Planning and managing, packing lunches and ironing shirts, taking care of children and running households... It warms my heart to see you recognise and understand and appreciate that.

Let me be clear though, you also do so much for the NDSA. Your Glossop meetups help fill gaps in autism support in Glossop, your voice speaks up and calls for changes when sudden surprises upset you, and your wit and intelligence is really evident in every post you make.

Support and celebrate women, but never understate your own influence on the world, the importance of your presence, and the power of your mind!

Thank you,
UnicornSpoon 🦄🥄💚
Click to expand...
Hi UnicornSpoon

Thank you for your kind words.

Since starting this thread I haven’t stopped thinking about the intersectionality of being socialised as female and being Autistic at a time when Autism was largely being defined by men, who saw this as a purely male condition. Sadly this bias still continues to this day in some quarters. I found it hard to get an assessment and diagnosis, but its doubly so for women and girls.

And then I came across this article:

theconversation.com

Why women have to queue for the toilet – and what it says about how cities are designed

Even when both sides occupy the same area, men’s facilities can serve more users.
theconversation.com theconversation.com

Which just brought home to me how the world has been designed by 25 year old NT, able bodied, cis gendered males, who don’t consider that there is any other way to be in this world and design and construct accordingly.

We really haven’t come very far when it comes to equality when we can’t even get the toilets right!

Wade
 
Camel said:
Hi UnicornSpoon

Thank you for your kind words.

Since starting this thread I haven’t stopped thinking about the intersectionality of being socialised as female and being Autistic at a time when Autism was largely being defined by men, who saw this as a purely male condition. Sadly this bias still continues to this day in some quarters. I found it hard to get an assessment and diagnosis, but its doubly so for women and girls.

And then I came across this article:

theconversation.com

Why women have to queue for the toilet – and what it says about how cities are designed

Even when both sides occupy the same area, men’s facilities can serve more users.
theconversation.com theconversation.com

Which just brought home to me how the world has been designed by 25 year old NT, able bodied, cis gendered males, who don’t consider that there is any other way to be in this world and design and construct accordingly.

We really haven’t come very far when it comes to equality when we can’t even get the toilets right!

Wade
Click to expand...
This article makes really good points! And doesn’t even touch on the struggles of people outside of the cisgender binary! Why on earth do we not have gender neutral bathrooms as the default?!? Society is baffling to me…

Anyway, that’s slightly beside the point 😅

Happy international women’s day to everyone! I hadn’t even really registered that NDSA is largely run by women but that’s awesome! Big appreciation to you all 💖💖💖

(Also Wade you are a sweetie 💖)
 
Hi KawaiiBean

I don’t think I’ve ever felt more loved and accepted for myself than with you and the fabulous band of Neurodivergents at NDSA. I confess I did feel tears welling when you called me a sweetie……no one has ever said that to me before. I will wear it with pride!🥰

Wade