On Saturday 20 June, members of Inclusion Scotland’s Development and Engagement team, Kei Yiu Ng and Amy Walsh, were delighted to attend ARGH Scotland’s Autistic Pride event in Bellfield Park, Inverness.
Autistic Pride is about coming together to challenge negativity and celebrate Autistic people for who they are. With the sun shining, the event brought together community members for crafts, information sharing, bubble-making and plenty of conversation.
As well as enjoying the activities, we were pleased to spend time speaking with ARGH trustees and volunteers to learn more about their work and the difference they make.
ARGH Scotland (formerly know as Autism Rights Group Highland) is a charity organisation run by and for Autistic adults. Based in the Highlands and working across Scotland, the organisation promotes self-advocacy, challenges stigma and discrimination, and works to ensure that the experiences and perspectives of Autistic people are heard by service providers and decision-makers.
Whilst relying entirely on a voluntary board of trustees, ARGH has built an impressive presence locally, nationally and internationally. Their work includes contributing to the Scottish Government’s Autism Strategy Review Group, the proposed Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill, supporting the Improving Understanding of Autism programme, participating in the Cross Party Group on Autism and working through networks such as the European Council of Autistic People (EUCAP).
What stood out most during our visit was ARGH’s commitment to creating welcoming spaces where Autistic people can connect, share experiences and celebrate their identities. Events such as Autistic Pride play an important role in building community, sharing information and creating opportunities for people to support one another.
We also came away with practical ideas that could help make events more accessible. ARGH introduced us to coloured communication cards worn on lanyards, allowing attendees to indicate how they would prefer others to interact with them. For example, a red card may indicate that someone would prefer not to be approached for conversation, while other colours signal different levels of interaction. It is a simple but effective approach that helps people communicate their preferences and feel more comfortable taking part. We hope to explore how similar measures could support inclusion at future Inclusion Scotland events.
Meeting ARGH’s trustees and volunteers also highlighted the challenges many small member organisations face. Delivering meaningful community work while relying on volunteer time and limited resources is no small task. Their dedication, knowledge and commitment to improving the lives of Autistic people across Scotland was clear throughout the day.
We are proud to have ARGH Scotland as a member of Inclusion Scotland and look forward to continuing to learn from and support their work.
Find out more about ARGH Scotland
You can learn more about ARGH Scotland, follow their work and find information about membership on their website and social media channels.
You can become a full member of ARGH if:
– You are Autistic
– You are aged 16 or over
– You live in Scotland
Membership is currently free, although donations are welcomed. If you do not meet the criteria for full membership, you can still support ARGH’s work by becoming an associate member.