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Gary Beckwith

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Everything posted by Gary Beckwith

  1. Hello everyone, I had some great advice and support from my first post on this forum (which seems like a long time ago). I have been working hard since then and am nearly at a point where the Autism Service Quality website will be launched! The Autism Service Quality website will be a free resource for the autism community, and will work a bit like TripAdvisor and similar sites (but with a twist). There is still some testing to do on the site so please get in touch if you would like to help by giving feedback. Before the website launches I have set up a facebook page that describes what I am trying to achieve from it and generate interest! It will only be successful if people see value in it. Please take a look at the facebook page and read the 'about' link, and 'Like' the page if you like it! I would appreciate as many 'what matters most' comments as possible, to give the page a good head start: https://www.facebook...mservicequality Please share the facebook page link with people that you think might be interested. Thank you, Gary
  2. Hello everyone, I had some great advice and support from my first post on this forum (which seems like a long time ago). I have been working hard since then and am nearly at a point where the Autism Service Quality website will be launched! The Autism Service Quality website will be a free resource for the autism community, and will work a bit like TripAdvisor and similar sites (but with a twist). There is still some testing to do on the site so please get in touch if you would like to help by giving feedback. Before the website launches I have set up a facebook page that describes what I am trying to achieve from it and generate interest! It will only be successful if people see value in it. Please take a look at the facebook page and read the 'about' link, and 'Like' the page if you like it! I would appreciate as many 'what matters most' comments as possible, to give the page a good head start: https://www.facebook.com/autismservicequality Please share the facebook page link with people that you think might be interested. Thank you, Gary
  3. Great example, Lyndalou, thank you! I'm looking for any examples of people's experiences with a range of services i.e. Leisure and Entertainment (pubs, theatres, restaurants, hotels etc) Health and Social Care (diagnosis, GPs, residential support, therapies etc) Transport (planes, trains, and automobiles etc) Housing (associations, private landlords etc) Financial (benefits system, banks etc) Education (schools, FE etc) Building Trades (finding and dealing with etc) Employment (Jobcentre Plus, employer practices etc) Other categories I've missed! Examples can be as broad or specific as they are happy to share.
  4. Hello everyone, For those of you who read my last post, and to those who responded, I can tell you that I'm not too far off launching a new website for the autism community. I'm very excited, but have no clue if anyone else will be... The site will enable users to communicate 'what matters most' to them when using any type of service, whether it be schools, diagnostic services, supported living services, hairdressers, employers etc... you get the picture. The outcome of collecting this information will aim to inform a wide range of service providers what they can do to be more 'autism friendly' (for want of a better expression). The hope is that services will then register on the site and open themselves up to be rated against the autism community's 'what matters most' (quality criteria). A bit like Trip Adviser where users can search for services in their area - but more personalised quality criteria. I want to create a low budget (as it's all I can afford!) video for the homepage that explains the site's purpose and basic functions. I really need help with this so people will be drawn to the site. Here is an outline of my request: What would be a good example for the video storyboard? In other words, what would be a typical service experience that you could provide some 'what matters most' criteria for easily e.g. pubs, and 'what matters most' criteria could be having a quiet area and visual menus for food? Other suggestions for any other type of service would be gratefully received. I'm looking forward to hearing from anyone! Thank you for reading this. Gary
  5. Matzo Sorry to hear you're going through it at the moment. If it's any comfort, you have brought what looks to be a new delight to my life. As I have finished my egg I have now 'borrowed' small pieces of my children's eggs and am going to give this ganache a try. I'm bad, and I know it.
  6. Thanks A-S warrior. No, not used YouTube yet. I think my skin is going to be tested over the coming months though. I might need to become a warrior too
  7. Thank you Special_talent123 and Moby75. I'm really grateful for such a positive response. Gary
  8. In between mouthfuls of chocolate, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to LancsLad, Matzoball and everyone who has taken time to read this post. Onward and upwards.
  9. My goodness. Thank you LancsLad for taking time to write your comments and share your valuable experience, which I most certainly appreciate. Much of what you have said is very familiar to me as part of many conflicting thoughts and feelings in recent times. But you have skilfully honed them in to something to help me focus at the very least. I'll be hitting the drawing board again over the coming days... Gary
  10. Sorry for referring to you as Snowdon, LancsLad. I'm getting the hang of this, honest.
  11. Thank you Snowdon - as you can see, I'm a complete novice. I am a qualified Quality Professional (Chartered Quality Institute) and have been working for The National Autistic Society since 1996. I am leaving my full-time post in September so that I can be the main carer for my four children. I will continue to work part-time. My short-term need is a bespoke website to sell my services as a freelance Quality Professional; with a [autism-focused] service design background. This element of the website I have put some money aside for. I am equally cautious in putting my full concept out there but if I can't share it here then where else...?! My reason for a wanting a bespoke website, initially, is that it can provide the building blocks for a more complex, user-led, site over time. The long-term concept is to create a forum-style site that is very specific to service quality e.g. capturing end-user experiences in a range of different service interactions. End-users could be individuals on the spectrum and/ or parents. There is an increasing focus on 'top-down' standards that define what quality services for people on the spectrum should look like. This definition could, arguably, be described as 'professional-driven' with an unrepresentative voice of people on the receiving end. I feel that the Autism Act 2009, NICE Standards, and autism charities/ services all have a significant role to play in improving service provision. However, I also believe that there is scope to create a fully inclusive and concise breakdown of what matters most to people - that could be practically read, understood and applied by the services that want/ need to adapt. I'm passionate about researching this further and don't want to raise money to pay a regular web-design company to just get something out there. Mainly because a project such as this must not solely be led by a neuro-typical-autism-related-professional: as this contradicts everything that I have stated previously! Money is also an issue. I'm not a web-designer and am just not technical. I do, however, have many other skills and need to build a team up to help this concept grow naturally through effective market research, and ultimately building and maintaining the site. My overall aim is that the site becomes income-generating and that the site employs individuals on the spectrum in a range of roles (which is a whole different post). Although I'm based in Northamptonshire, I'm looking in to using Second Life for office space :-) So, there you have it. My intention is to set up as a sole trader but, dependent on the response, level of dedication to the idea, and skills on offer within the autism community I'd be more than happy to set up a Limited Company or similar. That said, any solicitors, accountants, HR professionals reading this please offer your input too. I think I've gone from being way too brief with my explanation to a little over the top. Either way, I'll be glad for some interest as I'm not sure where to go next. On a personal note, I have a very strong set of values including honesty and respect. I'd expect the same from others that make contact and I'm happy to provide references to anyone wanting to explore this with me. I'm also on LinkedIn for those that want more info on me. Thank you for reading this post. Any advice on using this forum more effectively would be most welcome. Best wishes Gary
  12. I'm looking for someone on the spectrum that is a talented web designer and would like to be part of creating an autism-related website with me. I have little money but a big idea that could lead to long-term employment opportunities. Contact me if you want to discuss. Gary
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