Merlins Magic Wand changing criteria.

[MincePieFlavouredVoidka]

*Dear Merlin?s Magic Wand Applicants,

For those of you wishing to take advantage of our complimentary tickets for 2012, there has been a change in the way that Merlin?s Magic Wand will manage applications in 2012, for those families whose children are on the Autistic Spectrum or who have any Autistic related disability.

This year (2011) Magic Wand handled over 5000 applications, nearly 50% of these were from families with children with ASD.

Our Charity has very limited resources and funds and unfortunately we are no longer in a position to be able to manage these applications as efficiently as we wish. Therefore we have had to put in the following process in order for us to continue to work with families of Autistic children.

Applications from individual families will no longer be accepted. You will need to contact your local National Autistic Society Branch (NAS) in order for them to apply for tickets on your behalf. If you are not a member of your local NAS, you will need to contact any other organisation that you are a member of (incl Special Needs School ) that specifically handles children on the Autistic Spectrum. They will be able to submit an application on behalf of all their members.

The NAS are aware of this new procedure and the regional offices will be asked to contact the families on their books to see if they wish to take advantage of our attractions complimentary tickets.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause, however, this change needs to be made so that we can help as many children as possible and for us to continue our promise of giving children magical experiences.*

For the info of anyone thinking of applying in the spring.

"Applications from individual families will no longer be accepted. You will need to contact your local National Autistic Society Branch (NAS) in order for them to apply for tickets on your behalf."

That doesn't sound to me like they are excluding people with ASD, nor making a condition of 'group trips'. It seems more like this logic, to me:

1. Every application has to be assessed/vetted.
2. Last year we had 5000 applications (that's 100 per week).
3. Hmmm....half of those, 2500, were from children with ASD. (that's 50 per week).
4. Hmmm... how can we speed this up? I know...if they applied through NAS or another organisation that deals with ASD children specifically, then they are vouching for the dx, or needs, or whatever the criteria is, and so we can just rubber stamp those ones.
5. Phew...that means we only have to assess/vet 2500 applications each year.
6. Happy days.

Honestly, I think perhaps it is the complete opposite of what you are thinking.

except when you factor in that it is not the regional office of NAS they are asking you to contact (who have paid officers) but your local branch, which are usually run just parents of kids with ASD who didn't agree to process applications. Given that membership of NAS does not mean you have autism - any member of the public can join the NAS, clearly just being a member is not going to be enough to get free tickets. So how is a parent volunteer supposed to process / vet these applications? The NAS branches do not deal with asd children specifically unless they run youth clubs etc - some branches are nothing more than 2-3 parents, an email address and a monthly meeting down the pub.

That's not good, Agnes, but from an applicant's perspective, the above is how I read it. It sounds like it is a bit naive, and ill thought-out, indeed premature, but I don't read it as an attempt to reduce applicants.

It says 'we are no longer in a position to be able to manage these applications as efficiently as we wish.' Not, we want less applicants.

Interesting about the FB post!

Lougle, I understand what you say, but, as Agnes says, it would be branch members (who have very little spare time above what they are already contributing) who would be left to administer this. It also means that people would be compelled to make contact with/become a member of the NAS when what they actually want to do is go to Legoland or Madam Toussauds.

I think this is why people are perplexed. There's no doubt it's being done to make life easier for MMW but that's not really the concern is it?

I think it could certainly have been handled better with clearer info coming from MMW themselves when circulating this connection to the NAS and when asking for donations.

I also think this thread has demonstrated a potential disconnect between the NAS as a national organisation and some parents with autistic children. Irrespective of how committed and helpful local branches are, I can see that many feel the NAS as a national lobby group has little relevance to the horrendous battles we face with health and education services.

Message from National Autistic Society today, sounds like a retraction to me...

Hi all,

We're aware some people have had questions about our involvement with the charity Merlin's Magic Wand. We hope this will address those concerns.

---

Children with all disabilities, including those with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, can apply directly to Merlin's Magic Wand for free tickets to Merlins? 25 top UK family attractions.

The NAS is currently only exploring ways in which we can help Merlin's Magic Wand reach more families who have children with autism.

The announcement by Merlin's Magic Wand of our involvement was premature and once we have finalised precisely how the NAS will be involved we will let you know.

Both the NAS and Merlin?s Magic Wand want to reassure anybody who might be concerned that there never has been, nor will there be any charge for tickets allocated through the scheme.

Applications for tickets can be made through their website www.merlinsmagicwand.org

Merlin's Magic Wand Charity

In the light of recent conversations on this site and elsewhere we wanted to clarify the objective of Merlin?s Magic Wand ? which is very simple. We know that there are many children facing difficulties of all kinds - illness, disability or social issues - who would benefit greatly from a day at one of our attractions, when they can just have fun with friends and family, and get away from everyday concerns. The aim of Merlin?s Magic Wand, through the provision of tickets and grants, is to offer this opportunity to families who might not otherwise be able to visit us

Unfortunately our resources are not unlimited. As more people have become aware of the work of Merlin?s Magic Wand, and the number of individual applications has grown, we need to explore new ways of managing these. We believe that in the future the best way to reach the maximum number of different children will be for us to increasingly work in tandem with specialist organisations ? charities, support groups and educational and social services departments - who have direct access to those who would benefit most, and the communications channels to spread the word. More than this, given our aim must always be to give as many children as possible a magical day out, rather than the same children an annual outing ? we also believe that working with partner organisations will better ensure this. Finally such partnerships will leave our small dedicated team more time to develop our activities into new areas ? taking the magic out to those children who will never be well enough to come to us. We make no apologies for this. That said nothing will change until we have alternative arrangements in place and ALL eligible children should continue to apply through our website www.merlinsmagicwand.org, where full details are available

We would therefore like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly to anyone who was confused by some recent communications, or who interpreted them as in any way discriminating against children with autistic spectrum disorders. That was certainly not our intention. The National Autistic Society is undoubtedly one organisation with whom we are in discussions, but with the express aim of making these tickets more widely available and certainly NOT to limit access for those with autism or any other issue. We would also like to reassure anybody that might be concerned that if children are fortunate enough to be allocated tickets as part of the Merlin?s Magic Wand scheme there is, and never will be, any charge for these

We have taken very seriously all of the comments posted over the last couple of days relating to this subject, and we hope that this statement will reassure you all. If anyone still has concerns however please feel free to contact us direct offline on [email protected]

That is so not what that first email they sent out said!

Where did that message come from AmberLeaf?

It was on the MMW facebook page which was taken down at some point this afternoon, then reinstated with all complaining wall posts removed and the above statement in place.

You can no longer post on their wall either, although you can comment on the post with the statement in.

MMW facebook page here

Thanks Amber. That is very interesting. I hope this will help the organisations work together and with the communities they seek to serve.