Autism Spectrum Disorder
I only recently noticed that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) isn't in our issues lists (the Topic list on the Browse Listeners page, and the "Issues You're Comfortable Providing Support", "Issues You Don't Want to Discuss" and "Issues You Have Direct Lived Experience" lists in listeners' settings, which all seem to share the same list). Yet ASD has a forum category. Is there some reason it's not listed as an issue?
Other potential issues that I can find in the forums but people can't specify as issues are: Current Events & Disasters, Schizophrenia and Psychosis, and Sexual Health.
Conversely, issues that people can specify but seem to have no obvious place in the forums are: Diabetes, Financial Stress, Men's Issues and Weight Management.
Also, it doesn't seem to make much sense to merge Men's and Women's Issues, because members and listeners might want to choose one or the other.
Perhaps all this needs to be looked into?
@7CupsCommunity
Charlie
@RarelyCharlie
Thank you for the feedback! You have pointed out inconsistencies with our forum topics and 1-on-1 topics.
@7CupsCommunity Asd listeners and the ability to pick that when asking for support is important.
@7CupsCommunity
Has there been any movement on there being more autism disability on 7 cups?
@RarelyCharlie I agree I think ASD is a really good one to have in 1-1 topics.
And while the disabilities SC encompasses a fair bit, I have been suggesting for a while that we get Chronic Illness as a topic for 1-1s. Anxiety has multiple options related to topics. It seems odd to me diabetes is there but chronic illness in general is not. I feel like it may someone get the 'why are you here talking to me, go see a doctor' attitude reduced a bit.
@7CupsCommunity
@7CupsCommunity I agree that having tags specific to ASD would be helpful!
I just joined 7cups a few days ago and immediately searched for autism, ASD because it is my primary interest. How strange it was to find so little that I felt invalidated (I am autistic).
@kvinneakt your concern is understandable. I am also on the Autistm Spectrum. It really is a shame there is a lack of support about this topic.
@kvinneakt
There is also Support Plus which covers this area, they in the works of making the subcommunity more active. Take a look at their subcommunity and your also welcome to get involved in that subcommunity.
I want to bring some new attention to this thread since the issue still isn't fixed and as far as I know this isn't in the works either. Please make us autistic people feel seen and heard. If adhd and OCD are listed- so should autism.
I'm currently trying to write a listener support guide on autism, any actually autistic folx with good input please feel free to message me :) 🌻
Please PM me. I would love to talk about this topic. It’s frustrating that as an artistic listener and someone who has supported multiple members with autism they don’t have a topic…
