Fandom Con, a gaming convention specifically designed for and organised by people with autism and neurodiverse conditions, is back for a second year.
Co-founder of the convention Chris Campbell explains that the original idea stemmed from Fandom, a social forum originally created by NOW Group of which Chris is a former participant.
NOW Group is a social enterprise supporting people north and south with learning difficulties and autism into jobs with a future.
“I started at NOW around September 2014. It was my first job out of college, and I was doing a reception role. I’m autistic so it took me a while to get used to it and the first couple of months were kind of shaky,” explains Chris.
“So, I started looking for different social groups out there for people who are autistic.
“I came across two, so I went to both, and it was kind of weird because they basically just got a bunch of people in their mid-twenties to meet for two hours once a month.
“I didn’t really understand how that was supposed to work, it was almost like a reset every month - how can you make connections?”
It was based on this experience that Chris decided to form a new autism friendly social group alongside fellow NOW Group participants.
“For it to work we decided we would need to make it consistent. So the group would run for two hours each week and we would do activities that people were interested in like video games, cinema, etc and that common interest would hopefully bring people together.
“That launched in the spring of 2015. It started off with about 10 people and it went really well, then we expanded to 15 people, then 20. Then we learnt as we went along that these guys didn’t actually socialise at all outside of the house.”
Chris explains that through Fandom they found some of the participants attending struggled with social skills. As a result, he and the team decided to adapt the group and organise a monthly social event such as going to the cinema, a bar or a restaurant to help participants gain more confidence and independence.
“It has worked and it’s been great because now we have people who are able to go out by themselves, pay for things themselves and travel by themselves.”
Over the last 10 years Fandom has become so popular that three additional groups have been set up to accommodate everyone.
“We made a second group which ran on a Monday night, and it filled up, so then we made another one and ran it on Tuesday nights – same problem again, so then last year we opened a third one on a Thursday night,” says Chris.
“So now we have four fandom groups each with about 20 people per group – all doing a mix of things like video games, DnD (Dungeons and Dragons), art or creative writing.
“We also have two junior groups for younger kids aged 12-17 which run in the evenings online.”
Much like the social group it’s based on, Fandom Con aims to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals with autism and neurodiverse conditions where their voices are heard, their talents are celebrated and connections are made.
Last year’s Fandom Con which was held at 2 Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre saw 500 people attend - “we were overrun,” Chris recalls - and due to its popularity this year’s event is taking place at a larger venue, the Titanic Exhibition Centre.
“We’re close to sold out already, we’re nearing 1,000,” says Chris.
The event has expanded significantly since last year and will welcome vendors and video game professionals as well as offering sensory domes and areas for people who may feel overwhelmed by the experience.
“When it comes to autism there’s so many different variations relating to sound, sight – whatever it is so it’s important to make sure everyone is catered for,” he says.
It’s so hard to find things for autistic people especially when you hit your teenage and adult years. With Fandom Con people can come along to a free event and enjoy themselves and there’s no need to worry about the cost of getting in
— Chris Campbell
It will also feature an array of engaging activities, including gaming stations, cosplay competitions and tourneys to name but a few.
Chris believes Fandom Con is a real “game changer” for people with autism and neurodiverse conditions.
“I went to school in the early 2000s and there was nothing, no support mechanisms, no representation for people with autism absolutely nothing like that.
“The fact that it’s now being broadcast more, and people are becoming more aware that there is stuff out there is a game changer.
“It’s so hard to find things for autistic people especially when you hit your teenage and adult years. With Fandom Con people can come along to a free event and enjoy themselves and there’s no need to worry about the cost of getting in.”
Fandom Con is free to attend and will take place on May 25.
“I do love gaming, that is my thing,” laughs Chris when asked what the best thing about Fandom Con is. “But even more so I think it’s just watching people with similar interests interact and form connections.”
