Our Projects
Our Projects
At SEMA we have a network of translators who are either neurodivergent or carers of neurodivergent people. We work with Scottish Racialised communities to make connections, facilitate peer support and improve understanding of autism.
This year we launched our WhatsApp Support Group for those who identify as minority ethnic / religious minority autistic. This has provided a safe space to seek and give peer support as well as opportunities to contribute to our work.
As part of the 2023 Adult Autistic Support Fund (AASF) we are undertaking research work to inform the Scottish Government of the unmet needs of racialised adult autistics and what gaps in resources that services providers experience. If you would like to take part, either as in front minority ethnic and in front service provider, please get in touch. We will send you our survey and if requested, arrange a meeting to discuss. The aim is to start created relevant and requested resources in accessible formats
We have been working with The Autistic Collective and East Renfrewshire Carers Centre to create resources in different languages. This is a small pilot where we will translate our ERCC Webinars into Urdu and Arabic. If these resources are helpful to your organisation, contact us to collaborate on more translation work. The aim is to create materials that are relevant and requested to better support autistic adults in an accessible format.
We regard education very highly and know that accessibility to meaningful learning is difficult for autistic learners. This is why we joined the Neurodiversity in Scottish Schools project, run by Jason Lang and Melea Press at Glasgow University. Our input from our minority ethnic lens will contribute to the amazing work they are doing.
We also worked alongside with the Scottish Government to facilitate the LDAN Bill consultation. Through this work we translated the consultation into nine languages which are available on our LDAN page. We also connected with many community organisations throughout Scotland and held events to support participation. Our own response was sent on behalf of autistic people to which we received a response from MSP Marie Todd.
SEMA are also members of the Scottish Government Cross Party Group on Autism. We took the Meet the APO slot in summer and introduced ourselves as the only exclusive organisation dedicated to enhancing the life outcomes of racialised Autistic people in Scotland.
Service
We offer autism understanding training with an anti-racism lens, highlighting the impact of intersectionality in all aspects of life of autistic people and their families. We use lived experience and our background in grassroots community activism to work for change. We are open to collaborate and provide training for the public, private and third sector.
Peer Support
We have a closed Facebook group exclusive to those identifying as racialised autistics living in Scotland. Click here to join.
We have been funded by the National Lottery Ethnic Minority Development Fund to create training resources on autism as well as creating peer support groups in central Scotland. This has meant we are able to provide one to support, and have launched our WhatsApp support group. To join, please message 07793549733 and introduce yourself
Previous Work
- The Late Discovered Club Series 3 episode 4
- Neurodiversity Natters Podcast guest
- Stakeholder in LDAN Bill
- Research facilitator and advisor to Scottish Government Autism Policy Mental Health Reform
- Recording training materials for mental health practitioners
- Webinars for Minority Ethnic carers of East Renfrewshire
- Seminars for Minority Ethnic carers and participants of Al Masaar MHWB Stirling group
- Training in collaboration with Autism Understanding for NKS Edinburgh
Calling Scottish Autistic Adults
If you describe yourself as autistic and from a minority ethnic background (Black, Brown, Asian, Indigenous, Person of Colour) then we would like to hear from you!
To help us work to improve services for minority ethnic autistic we want to find what your experiences of getting appropriate support have been like. Through the Autistic Adult Support Fund, SEMA will recommend to organisations and Scottish Government improvements to support needed.
You can get a carer/ support worker to help you fill out the survey or contact us.
Please complete the survey by 20th Dec. We will share a summary report with you once completed.
Calling Scottish Organisations
Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics, as part of the Scottish Autistic Adult Support Fund (AASF), are looking to hear from Scottish organisations about ways they incorporate specific support for Racialised adult Autistics.
We would also like to find out what resources are needed to better support these organisations to provide effective support.
Deadline for this survey is 20th December
