Launch event for our free Welcome Pack

This online event is to celebrate the official launch of Reframing Autism’s new Welcome Pack. Our free Welcome Pack is a resource to welcome newly diagnosed or self-identifying Autistics to the Autistic community and was co-designed with members of our Intersectional Advisory Committee (IAC) of Autistic adults. The IAC comprises community representatives from under-represented and multiply marginalised groups to help us understand better how we can support the full breadth of our community. It is these extraordinary individuals who have contributed to this Welcome Pack, to make it what it is.

Our Welcome Pack was developed with, by and for late diagnosed and self-identified Autistic adults wanting to know more about how to recognise and engage with neuroaffirming and inclusive support following their Autism diagnosis or self-identification.

What we will discuss

This event will include:

     · An official launch of the Pack

     · An introduction and orientation to navigating the Pack

     · An overview of how the work on the Pack was supported

     · A panel of the team members who contributed to the pack, including Reframing Autism’s Dr Melanie Heyworth, Ms Natasha Siryj (IAC Chair), Dr Alexandra Johnston (co-design lead) and a selection of our IAC members who will read excerpts from their contribution to the Pack

     · Time for audience questions

Who this is for

Whether you:

     · Have undergone the diagnostic process with a clinician;

     · Have engaged in the process of self-identification;

     · Are yet to go down the path of the diagnostic process or self-identification but want to know how to better navigate what is good and useful information relevant to you or your family

     · Have some experience in recognising and engaging with neuroaffirming and inclusive support following your Autism diagnosis or self-identification; or

     · Are a diagnostician who would like to provide a neuroaffirming resource to your clients

We hope this will be a useful and informative panel discussion.

Topics covered

Our panel will draw from their lived and professional experience to reflect on and discuss some of their learnings in recognising and engaging with neuroaffirming and inclusive support following an Autism diagnosis or self-identification - whether that be insights related to:

     · Discovering you are Autistic

     · Autism acceptance, self-compassion and self-care

     · Developing a positive Autistic identity

     · Reducing masking and camouflaging

The panel will also touch on aspects including:

     · Sharing what we wish we had known

     · Sharing what we wish others to know

Our panellists

Dr Melanie Heyworth (she/her) is an Autistic Autism researcher, mother of Autistic children, founder of Reframing Autism and PhD student within the Macquarie School of Education. Mel is passionate about genuinely co-produced research, and regularly contributes to, and provides Autistic insights on, Autism research. Mel’s current research foci are around the experiences of parenting Autistic children, community involvement in Autism research, double empathy, and Autistic children's wellbeing.

Dr Alexandra Johnston (she/her) is an Autistic postdoctoral Autism researcher with Reframing Autism and the Autism Centre of Excellence, Griffith University. Alexandra is also an accomplished educator with 25 years’ experience in the areas of early childhood and applied positive psychology. Alexandra is a member of the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR) and a board member with Inclusive Rainbow Voices, where her specific expertise in trauma-informed practice supports co-design research initiatives with community representatives from under-represented and multiply marginalised groups. As an interdisciplinary lived-experience researcher, Alexandra is a research fellow as part of a diverse team of academics from the University of Glasgow, the University of Melbourne, and the Australian Catholic University. She has presented her research at international conferences, where her focus spans contemporary theory and practice within autistic wellbeing and applied positive psychology. Alexandra’s interests include understanding experiences of Autistic wellbeing and thriving. She is the Co-Design Lead for the Welcome Pack.

Ms Natasha Siryj (she/Her) is a late diagnosed Autistic and ADHDer. She is a qualified teacher, has undertaken educational research and has worked in a variety of settings including community services, education and local government. Natasha has presented at conferences and symposiums, sharing her own Lived Experience of being an Autistic individual, and has been a speaker on Lived Experience storytelling, consultancy and co-design. Natasha seeks opportunities to use her intersectional lens and Lived and Living experience to build awareness. She is passionate about inclusive practice, the power of individual voice and the use of Lived and Living experience to drive change. She encourages others to form a better understanding of Autism, other Neurodiversities and Mental ill-health, and aims to build awareness about including and the value of Lived Experience. Natasha has her own training and consultancy business, Practice Inclusion, and is also the chair of the IAC.