Safeguarding Overview
NEUROMANCERS is run for and by self-identified neurodivergent+ people and is dedicated to our community’s protection and safety. NEUROMANCERS has a duty towards safeguarding as an organisation who works with (and is run by) those who may be considered vulnerable adults. We also recognise that safeguarding is a collective practice, that everyone is responsible for.
Abuse: We recognise that abuse can be enacted or experienced by anyone and everyone. NEUROMANCERS supports survivors – whether you are a survivor of sexual violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse, religious abuse, or other. If you disclose a person or group of people’s abusive and/or harmful behaviour, we will take it seriously. We won’t share that information, or act on it, without your explicit consent.
Police: As a peer-led, non-clinical organisation, we recognise the need for mental health resources and programs that do not involve state authority, including police. We know that many in our community have been actively harmed by such interactions, hence why these institutions are not and will never be part of our organising practices.
We recommend that those taking part in NEUROMANCERS events, spaces, and organising use aliases to protect their identity. As an abolitionist, politicised social service, we welcome feedback to aid our continual development.
“A [politicised social service continues to do grassroots organising to transform the underlying conditions of state violence and does not collude or partner with the police and prison industrial complex, especially where harm to any worker or program participant is possible. A politicised social service ensures a direct line of accountability to the people it sets itself up to serve because they are led by and for — and/or because they have meaningful participation and direction from — those who are directly harmed by systemic violence.” – PAINTING THE OCEAN & THE SKY by Shira Hassan
Crisis Disclaimer: NEUROMANCERS offerings and programs are not crisis response. All programs should be in conjunction with and addition to an existing system of personal mental health support. Our offerings are peer-based mental health programs, and bear no equivalent to clinical, professional, legal, or healthcare advice. Our programs are not therapy and no client/therapist relationship is formed by your participation.. Any information provided to you by NEUROMANCERS, or anyone linked to the organisation, is educational only and should not be considered medical, psychological, or any other professional health care treatment.
Age Disclaimer: All our programs are intended for those over the age of 18. Those under 18 should seek parent or guardian permission in writing before participating, to meet legal requirements. However, as many community members and participants use aliases, we cannot verify one’s identity or age. This means there may still be young people in our spaces.
We began as a youth-led, unincorporated, organisation, so solidarity with young people is important to our practice. However, our current capacity for working with and appropriately safeguarding young people is limited, therefore we currently do not have specific programs for individuals under the age of 18. We hope to do so in the future.
Discrimination: We require all those taking part in NEUROMANCERS events, spaces, and organising to follow our guidelines and practise non-discriminatory behaviour towards any marginalised or vulnerable people. Those in violation of these terms may be removed.