Borneo with Raleigh International

Wouldn’t it be great if some of the organisations that do great things to help people move forward found out how to work with people with Asperger’s? I am working with Raleigh International, who take young people on third world adventure and aid expeditions. When I approached them, they decided immediately that their work should be accessible to Aspies, and so I have formed a group of nine young people who are willing to be the guinea pigs as we discover the problems and the solutions that will enable them to join a mainstream group of young people who will travel (in 2009) to Borneo, where they will assist in a development project (irrigation or construction – something of value to the local community). After that they will take part in a big adventure expedition, coming back to the UK after ten weeks away. With blisters.

Whew! These nine people are just regular Aspies – some are stuck at home, finding it hard to get out of the house and to get things moving, others have degrees and are just embarking into the world of work, others are at college, all have faced significant problems in their life so far.

So... I am working with them for a year to get them ready, working with Raleigh to get them ready, and doing whatever is needed to have them join a larger group, mix with regular people, raise enough money to make it possible, get fit enough to do this – it will be hot – and strong enough in their heads to manage themselves throughout all the discomfort and disruption.

I haven’t a clue what we need to do yet (not quite true!), but I do know that we will work it out together and the year’s journey will be of immense significance to them even if they do not get to Borneo (or back...). I also know that graduates of Raleigh are fuelled by their experiences throughout their life. Once you have achieved something you never thought possible your view of yourself changes.

This is a prototype exercise – over the next few years I hope I can help to get Raleigh to the point where they do it without me. That will give us a model for taking other organisations forward. There is no reason why people with Asperger’s should be excluded from the great opportunities that exist – of course there is also a need for the individual to make moves – there is no value in mollycoddling, and organisations like Raleigh International exist to support just that movement. Aspies need some specific extra support in doing it, that’s all, and organisations can learn to offer that.

I wonder where we can take this model to next?