Is Autscape political? That is a complicated question.
Autscape is an event based on the idea of autistic space, pioneered by ANI (1996-2013) in the US. Autscape is the second organisation worldwide to implement the idea, and the longest-surviving one. Autistic space is where being autistic is not merely tolerated or accepted, but welcomed; where autistic people are not merely involved, but are in charge. Autscape is a yearly “autistic escape” from the oppressions that most autistic people experience in mainstream society. An entire autistic community has grown around this event.
In two decades of Autscape’s existence (as of 2025), some progress has been made. Few organisations now talk openly of curing or eliminating autism. Many more autistic-led organisations now exist. But the overwhelming majority of power is still concentrated in autism organisations that are controlled by parents of autistic children and (often medical) professionals in the field of autism. Their agendas usually amount to fixing autistic people’s “deficits”, and not society’s failure to include us. They have now mostly learned to pay lip service to autistic participation, but this almost invariably means recruiting autistic individuals and not autistic-led organisations. In practice, this rarely amounts to more than tokenism.
As long as it is not the norm for autistic people to be in charge of all matters related to autism, the mere existence of autistic-led organisations and communities such as Autscape remains political, even radical. “Existence is resistance”.
Our fundamental political positions are that we, autistic people, have a right to exist exactly as we are, and that we should be in control of our own affairs. We oppose attempts by non-autistic organisations to decide what is best for us.
Beyond that, Autscape is deliberately tolerant and accepting of different opinions and ideas. We provide a relatively neutral meeting ground designed for autistic needs and sensitivities. We welcome all autistic people, whatever their personal views on autism politics (issues such as whether autism is a disability or a difference, or whether medical treatments are desirable). We also welcome anyone else who is willing to respect our autistic space. Autscape is autistic-led and autistic-dominated, but does not exclude non-autistic people; we also put the idea of neurodiversity into practice.
To further this goal of inclusion, Autscape chooses to avoid taking political positions beyond those described above. Whilst some people associated with Autscape are also involved in political organisations, Autscape itself is not such an organisation. Autscape was set up to run an annual community event for and by autistic people. Achieving this each year is a remarkably demanding job which takes all the resources the organisers have.
There are other organisations, some of which were begun by people who met at Autscape, which focus on activism. Those organisations exist to pursue goals such as trying to change public policies which affect autistics and influence public opinion. They include Autistic UK, as well as the European Council of Autistic People, of which Autscape is a founding member. Autscape has also inspired other autistic space events, including Autminds (Netherlands) and AUTcamp by Neuropeculiar (Italy).
Autistic activism is important. Autscape welcomes and encourages presentations about the work of activist groups. The Autscape event provides a platform and a structure for them to form in the first place, and to network with others. It is part of Autscape’s charitable objects to “encourage increased acceptance and support of autistic people in the community” and to “advance and promote the education of autistic people in self-advocacy and in those issues which are of particular interest and/or relevance to autistic people”*. But direct activism is not what Autscape does. Autscape exists to create a positive and accepting environment in which autistics can truly be ourselves amongst others who are fundamentally similar.
* See the Memorandum of Association of The Autscape Organistion, articles 3(b) and 3(c).