NB: This informational page is mirrored for information, and without direct approval - as the information is links to other bodies, while compiled on behalf of ASPIRE, is not their own copyright, and has been edited to ensire compliance.  We have asked for the following information to be included, and will replace when made available:

A Brief description of ASPIRE, Name, Address and contact Details of ASPIRE, Nationally, and any services run for parents and Aspies - A Page or link of Support Groups, useful links, and background information on its history.  This page was mirrored in June 2007, and is updated 13/02/2008 CCE

ASPIRE Logo, TM, ASPIRE - permission given to provide ASPIRE Logo and link it to ASPIRE.  While the Trustees of Federation Trust and members of the Wise Family have worked on fundraising and support of ASPIRE, this page should in no way be deemed that we are authorised or allowed to represent ASPIRE.  ASPIRE, being a charity and cause supporter by us, is however a Charter member of Federation Trust and in its own right is entitled to pick and chose in which way it and us as Trustees co-operate towards the common goals of proviong support of parents and people with Aspergers Syndrome, Asperger's Disorder, Non-Verbal Learning Disability or simular consitions of High Functional Autism.

AUTINET Forum, run by Peter Wise althugh having received funding from ASPIRE and People in Need is not an ASPIRE Group, as well as the Cartridge Recycling Schemes run by Federation Trusts Charity-Online.ie. Recycling Appeal .

AUTINET Community Services, run by the Trustees of Federation provides Peer-to-Peer Advocacy and Support for Aspies and Cousins, is funded by the Trustees of Federation Trust and has never received any funding.  The Trustees run their projects and non-paid voluntary work from the Charity-OnLine  E-Commerce Project.

You may subscribe to AUTINET FORUM (without charge of course) simply by sending an email message to the list-owner Peter Wise along with a two line explanation of your interest in discussing Autism and related disorders and what country you are from. Resources at: http://www.Autinet.org.

ASPIRE - The Asperger's Syndrome Association is also a Membergroup of the Disability Federation of Ireland:

Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland (ASPIRE)

Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7
Telephone: 01 8780027
Fax: 01 8735737
Email: admin@aspire-irl.org
Web: www.aspire-irl.org

The aims and objectives of the Association are to provide support for those suffering from Asperger Syndrome. The Association provides a support network for families of those affected and promotes research into the condition.

ASPIRE also works with other Autism related groups in the Irish Autism Action  and Inclusion Ireland.  Charity-Online.ie supports the use of MyCharity.ie and Paypal as secure methods for payments to ASPIRE - The Asperger's Syndrome Association of Ireland.  Unlike all other Charities, ASPIRE seems to have in recent years developed a policy to discourage payment of membership and donations into their Bank Accounts.  When I was the Participant Representative on the Horizon Project and when organising fundraising events, such as at Conferences, Training Seminars and for example the third proceeds of the Star Trek Wedding, shared with AUTINET and Irish Society for Autism, the use of Bank accounts was normal. Payment of membership into bank account is not acceptable under any circumstances.  After not getting the information from ASPIRE, the following was learned from our esteemed Honourary Secretary, Des McKernan (after not getting anywhere, I phoned him at the home office) - and I am giving the quotes and details here so there is absolutely no confusion on the matter:

 

"Bank Accounts and financial matters are private and confidential" and "you have no right to be digging into them" while I was not asking for them at this occasion to publish online and in our member directory, I was proposing to use them for membership and donations.  The refusal to provide these seems to lack clarity of purpose and intent - an evasiveness that the Aspie and Advocate accepted by the High Court considers is widely and apperanety contrary to both Company Registration Office and Charitable Status, with the Charity Section, Government Buildings, Nenagh.  Their accounts and finances must be open and available to anyone whom applies - and I have yet to have heard of another Charity that does not list its bank accounts - most are published Online, and available in Bank branches publications, especially in Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks - (as the only Charity-Only Incorporation Agent in the country I should know, plenty of Solicitors, barristers, and Accounts that do a one off-Charity in amongst the commercial incorporations - but we do not do any commercial work) I guess ASPIRE must be the only charity that refuses its to take membership or donations into a bank account, claiming confidentiality and refusing members access to bank a/c for fees and donations, or financial reports?  I find this more then a little bemusing, practise, and thus, as an Aspie are obliged to highlight this statement here.

The Trustees of Federation Trust support the voluntary work done by ASPIRE - The Asperger's Syndrome Association of Ireland, and as a result this body is given Charter Member Status (given to all groups financially supporterd by the Trustees), as of May 1994.  We also support the campaign for representation of Aspies, Autistics and related disorders to be involved in the consultation, running and promotion of these groups, as a matter of right, and support the setting up ofICAAN The Irish Council for Aspies and Autistic Networking, to enable the consultation and peer to Peer and Advocacy Support of those of us within these bodies that claim to represnt us on a "Nothing about us without Us" principle.  The Development of it consists of past and present members of ASPIRE for the benefeit of fair and equal rights of consultation and advocacy within the Autistic Community and its groups.

 

 

Proposed:

A service, made up of full members by people - the representative body of people with Asperger's syndrome/Disorder, High Functional Autism, Non-Verbal Learning Disability, Tourettes, Savants, other people with Autism, Autistic Spectrum Disorder ADD, ADHD, PDD/NOS and related disorders).

AIMS:

To set up local, regional and Irish membership of people in and around the Autistic Spectrum over 16 years old;

To provide education, information and awareness of what we want and how we want it;

To provide Peer to Peer and Self Advocacy to better represent ourselves, and assist those similar to ourselves whom are not so able to express themselves;

To demand and require full and free consultation and representation on Asperger's and Autism Related bodies, organisations, associations and groups;

To provide social, communication and recreational activities for our members;

To develop and organise events, conferences, educational and information about our rights, opinions, and feelings;

To create a Consultative and Rights-based approach to Aspies, Auties, and our cousins where we are valued, appreciated and are allowed to express ourselves freely without fear or threat or censure;