Dear Sangha
I'd like to share two resources with everyone in case they may be of interest, particularly for members who feel neurodiversity and/or disability is personally relevant.
Autscape is a yearly conference designed by autistic people for autistic people. It is based in the UK and serves to create a structural and social communal space for autistic people with acknowledgment that many mainstream communal spaces are not structurally or socio-normatively designed for autistic needs. Other neurotypes, including neurotypical people, are very welcome, but are asked to respect the rules that help preserve the spirit and ethos of the event.
There is an in-person conference every summer in August and they have recently started an online version to increase accessibility, which is open to registration now (sliding scale cost) and will be held over Zoom and Discord Feb 6-8th 2026: https://www.autscape.org/2026/online/
Design & Disability V&A Exhibit
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a special exhibit open until mid February on the topic of Design & Disability. It showcases the many ways in which the disabled and neurodivergent communities have contributed to the arts and modern culture in radical, positive ways: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/design-and-disability
Disabled people and companions can attend for free.
Just to note, neither of these are at all Soto Zen related, but I have attended them both and found them positive and enriching, opening my mind and heart to the many ways in which our social and cultural norms restrict rather than empower and bring people together. Sharing with a mind for Treeleaf Dojo's values and because positive, communal space for minority identities can be hard to find!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week thus far.
Gassho
Seidō
Sat/Lah
I'd like to share two resources with everyone in case they may be of interest, particularly for members who feel neurodiversity and/or disability is personally relevant.
Autscape is a yearly conference designed by autistic people for autistic people. It is based in the UK and serves to create a structural and social communal space for autistic people with acknowledgment that many mainstream communal spaces are not structurally or socio-normatively designed for autistic needs. Other neurotypes, including neurotypical people, are very welcome, but are asked to respect the rules that help preserve the spirit and ethos of the event.
There is an in-person conference every summer in August and they have recently started an online version to increase accessibility, which is open to registration now (sliding scale cost) and will be held over Zoom and Discord Feb 6-8th 2026: https://www.autscape.org/2026/online/
Design & Disability V&A Exhibit
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a special exhibit open until mid February on the topic of Design & Disability. It showcases the many ways in which the disabled and neurodivergent communities have contributed to the arts and modern culture in radical, positive ways: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/design-and-disability
Disabled people and companions can attend for free.
Just to note, neither of these are at all Soto Zen related, but I have attended them both and found them positive and enriching, opening my mind and heart to the many ways in which our social and cultural norms restrict rather than empower and bring people together. Sharing with a mind for Treeleaf Dojo's values and because positive, communal space for minority identities can be hard to find!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week thus far.
Gassho
Seidō
Sat/Lah
Safe, communal spaces are vital.
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