Autistic people and Asperger´s do have a space to speak for themselves about their life style, interests, different ways of thinking and sensing this world. They have the right not to be presented as "damaged" or "not normal". This project will provide a space for presenting the autistic/aspie culture, way of life, talents and voices both in online magazine and in open space installations/exhibitions connected with sensory experience typical for autistic perception.

Banská Bystrica region, south central Slovakia and other places

We aim to tackle the lack of understanding of diversity both in perception and dealing with the world around us and diversity in gender and sexual identities in people. The empowerment of the young people and adults on spectrum as well as in LGBTI+ community is crucial for their expression, support and participation. Self- advocacy trainings and the space provided by the online magazine will give them opportuinity to gain the selfe esteem and make their opinions more visible. Project will provide the support on informal level ( peer groups) as well as build up the network of small inclusive centers in the country. The exhibition will create an opportunity for general public to experience the diversity by sensoric installations prepared by the autistic people and representing their culture.

Themmain target group are young people and adults with Asperger ´s syndrome and autism. Some of them are also members of LGBTI+ community. There is about 1,5 % of population of autistic people, we do work with 2 500 social groups members and are running acitivities in 10 locations in Slovakia, with about 1000 participants per year for offline acitivities and several thousands for online acitivities mainly during the Covid period. In our online magazine there will be about 20 people contributing to its content and the open airt exhibition can accomodate 200 people at each place. We plan to realise it at 3 places - 2 in Central Slovakia and one in Bratislava, the capital city.

Web portal consisting of two main areas of operation: 1. supportive network and services for autistic people (children, young, adult), giving a unique offer of experts and supporters, and self-supporting groups, access to counselling in different parts of Slovakia. 2. On-line magazine conveying experience of autistic people, their lifestyles, challenges and talents, giving them an job opportunity as redactors, bloggers, illustrators, marketers etc.
Web- portal is a tool of communication and as such, it is a strong basis for campaigning human rights and specific needs of neurodiverse people. 3. training and mentoring for the target group of young people and adults on spectrum and with gender and sexuality diversity will be held online and in different localities in Slovakia accordin to their needs. 4. preparation and installation of open - air exhibition based on sensory experiences of people on spectrum based on their art work and technical installations providing different sensory perceptions experienced by neurodiverse people. 5. running exhibitions and discussions with decisionmakers and other public authorities about the specific needs, inclusion and diversity as such.

The development of the protal will bring the neurodiverse people the space for bulding up their self esteem, new skills and opportunity to self- advocate and participate in public life. They will sher their talents ande ideas with the outer world and contribute to bulding up specific minority-based culture. It will provide long -term toll for influencing the public meaning and present the inclusive approach to neuro and LGBTI diversity. The better understanding of the general public as well as decisionmakers will be reached out by the unique exhibition based on sensory perceptions based on autistic experience. There will be better undertanding of their specific needs and it will influence the policies and decision making in the field of inclusive approach to this sensitive target groups.

The young people and adults engaged in developing the online magazine will receive the support form the mentors and peer- support from each other for expressing their talents and ideas and participate in influencing the publci meaning about their needs and gifts enriching the society. The magazine will imrpove their quality of life by providing also the skills and possible income by establishing the social entepreneurshio opportunities. they will also receive the mentoring from experts in marketing, writing, social media management etc.

Our team has experience both in marketing and communication, as well as in the art work and talent support. Most of us do have direct experience also with the neurodiversity ourselves. Some of the team members are living in the city of Banská Bystrica, as well as in the rural area at the region. Our knowledge of the civic landscape is given by several years of working in NGOs, municipalities as well as in the field of human rights advocacy, education and personal development skills .

Office expenses 5 000 Eur, travel and accommodation 2 000 Eur, portal grafics and design 5000 eur, open air exhibition cotst 15 000 Eur, personnel costs 8 000 EUR

Ideas for the online magazine content and mentoring will be welcomed, as well as the feedback to open air sensory exhibition idea.