inSeption Group’s Post

Back by popular demand, it’s Ableism in Action! During Tuesday night’s webinar on reasonable adjustments in education and work, we talked about school meetings and it brought to mind the following... Some years ago I was in a school meeting discussing supports for an Autistic child. One of the professionals in the room - who specialised in supporting Autistic children - decided that it was a good time to declare that Autistic people sometimes have meltdowns on purpose. I spoke up to challenge this. I had to. Yet despite drawing on my extensive lived and professional experience, I was informed that I was wrong. This was beyond exasperating. This professional had been taught this during their training and held onto this belief despite the wealth of evidence in front of them. Meltdowns are not on purpose. They are a neurological event when our brains are completely overwhelmed. Not a bid for attention, not to achieve a goal, a neurological event. Meltdowns are intensely private and personal, never a choice. So not only did they hold outdated information about Autism, they refused to learn from an Autistic person who also happened to be an Autism professional. Multiple layers of ableism. How can you be an ally? Listen to Autistic people when we talk about our lived experiences. Be open to learning from us, and recognise that what people see on the surface is only a fraction of the whole experience for us, particularly when we meltdown. Funny how often this is the key to allyship, isn’t it? If your organisation would like to to date Autistic led training, email marion@auroraconsulting.scot for a free consultation. Pic of an exasperated woman with a similar expression to mine at the time of the meeting #autism #autistic #meltdown #ableism #education #school #DEI #equity #inclusion

🌟 Success Story: Achieving Goals and Building Capacity 🌟 As a Support Coordinator, I'm passionate about building capacity in participants and celebrating their achievements. Today, I want to share some background to my “why” and a very personal success story that brings me immense joy. My eldest son, Master O, has level 3 ASD, ADHD, GAD, and hEDS. Master O faces significant challenges daily, as level 3 ASD requires very substantial support. It is characterised by severe difficulties in social communication and extremely inflexible behaviour. Despite these challenges, he has been diligently working towards his NDIS goals, and his progress has been truly inspiring. One of the ways we have been working towards his goals was to join the Specialist Music Program at a high school. Last night was their music concert, where he performed alongside his peers. This moment was a testament to his hard work, determination, and the support he has received along the way. Seeing him on stage, participating in an activity he loves, and sharing his passion for music with others is a milestone we have been working towards for a long time. It fills my heart with joy to witness how far he has come. Children with level 3 autism face severe challenges, such as limited social interactions, extreme difficulty coping with routine changes, and significant distress with shifting focus. But with quality early intervention and a dedicated therapy team, they can overcome these challenges and achieve remarkable milestones. My vision is for every autistic person to live a personally meaningful life. As a Support Coordinator I aim to empower and support autistic individuals to achieve their goals and enjoy fuller, more engaged lives. Congratulations, Master O! Your journey and achievements inspire us all. Let's continue to build capacity, celebrate successes, and support each other in reaching our goals. #NDIS #SupportCoordination #AutismAwareness #BuildingCapacity #SuccessStory #Inclusion #Empowerment #ASD #EarlyIntervention

In a recent talk I delivered at the #haworth offices in Toronto, an attendee posed an excellent question of me; “how do you define #disability particularly as it relates to designing work environments for #pwd’? We can define this medically which is not a helpful construct when it comes to design or functional abilities of employees. We can use the #humanRights definition which is more about determine rights and legal obligations for employers. Or, we can not use a definition, rather just assume that most people, even if “you don’t look disabled” (yes people say this) have some type of ability that does not fit the “norms” of an abled society. (Read #theEndOfAverage). Optimal performance develops both ergonomic and accessibility standards for the built environment, websites, technology before anything is designed or built. This way we design for inclusion of people of all abilities and age, which ironically causes everyone’s performance and abilities to be maximized! Join #janeSleeth #lisaMacvicar March 19th at #cresa where we will discuss this topic as it relates to the #returnToOffice #hybridOffice discussion and challenges for Cdn workplaces. #corporaterealestate #cre #corenet #tloma #fm #hrprofessionals #dei #idea welcome to sign up and join in on the conversation. Btw one more point of interest re #chrisRock he is a prime example of the intersectionality of all of your employees where you can be of a specific gender, colour and disability. None of us exist in one “category” thus the move from #dei to #idea

Six years ago, I was a young mom, high school dropout, and struggling with severe ADHD. I had no resources, no role models, and no path forward. Giving up felt inevitable. But then, everything changed. Mentors believed in me, taught me the power of routines and habits, and gave me the tools to rewrite my story. Today, I’m a pre-law student on my way to becoming a first-generation college graduate—and I’m determined to ensure others like me have the same chance to succeed. That’s why I’m honored I have a chance to be a part of an organization that alligns withe my values and ethics, this year my goal is contribute.$5,000 to The New York Foundling to raise for programs that help neurodivergent /developmentaly disabled youth, young adult, adults! unlock their potential. because from first hand experience, the little things really go along way<3. These kids aren’t “broken”—they just need support, encouragement, and opportunities. 💡 what we can change as a community • A child staying in school instead of dropping out. • A family accessing resources they never knew existed. • A young adult breaking cycles and building a brighter future. Without these programs, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Let’s give others the same chance. Together, we can create a future where every child can thrive. #Neurodiversity #Advocacy #Leadership #ADHD #GivingBack

New Blog! Dive into valuable insights and expert advice on navigating ABA services seamlessly: https://lnkd.in/gbxj8unC From understanding the basics to uncovering advanced strategies, this blog covers it all! Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or professional in the field, there's something for everyone. Let's support each other on this journey of understanding and advocating for individuals with autism. Share the knowledge, spread the love!

Have you ever had the opportunity to return to your old school to educate the teachers? I’m so grateful to Devin Cassidy at Fulneck Independent School to let me do just that! Caren and I will be running an interactive talk session at the school on one of the INSET days to give the teachers an insight into my autistic behaviours and mindset. We will discuss the challenges for both the autistic student and the teacher, answer any questions they may have had for a long time and give tips on how to improve productivity through awareness, understanding and positive action. You can see below Devin’s article from the latest Fulneck newsletter. Please let me know if you would like to run such a session at your school or organisation! #Autism #Inclusion #Positivity #CPD Image Description: Devin Cassidy, Principal of Fulneck School, is holding the book ‘From the Dark into the Light – How I came to see the positive side of Autism’ and shaking author Callum L Gamble’s hand while both are smiling into the camera. Image Text: Meeting Callum Gamble On Wednesday, we had the honour of hosting former Fulneck pupil Callum Gamble and his mother, Caren, who are now business partners in Callum’s endeavour to raise awareness and understanding of living with autism. Their insights shed light on how employers and schools can further comprehend and support individuals facing these challenges. As a school, we take immense pride in Callum’s accomplishments and recognise the importance of increasing our understanding of autism. In light of this, we have committed to having Callum provide training sessions for our staff and engage with our students to foster our inclusive culture. We firmly believe in the principle of not judging individuals based on their ability to fit into a predetermined mold, as expressed by the saying, “Don’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree.” Additionally, we highly recommend Callum’s book, which delves into his experiences at Fulneck School in Chapter 5. We believe that this book has the potential to enrich the lives of our entire community, whether you’re an employer, employee, teacher, or student. It offers valuable insights and perspectives that can contribute to a more compassionate and supportive environment for everyone.

By, With and For Autistic Adults officially became our name just last month, but it's been the core of our mission since this nonprofit was merely a flicker of an idea. Our "Why" started from the perspective that, across the United States, resources and support for the autism community are skewed heavily towards individuals under 18. We wanted to fill this wide-ranging area of need, especially in those crucial young adult years that set the foundation for the rest of one's adult life. A conversation between our founder, his daughter and a friend sparked the flame that would become BWFAA. What started as an engaging, friendly chat shifted abruptly to stilted and uncomfortable when the daughter revealed her Autism diagnosis. In that moment, nothing changed except his perception of her. They say that perception is reality, but in this case, the individual allowed reality to color their perception upon learning of her diagnosis, regardless of the fact that nothing about her or their conversation had changed. As a comparison, Anthony Hopkins' ability to look at people from a unique perspective has played a central role in his brilliant acting career. Daryl Hannah's special interests as a child included movies, which led to her career as an actress. Both are diagnosed Autistic. Does their diagnosis make their accomplishments less? Should Sir Anthony return his 2 Oscars, 2 Emmy's, 4 BAFTAs, and his Golden Globe? Does her autism make Ms. Hannah's performances in Steel Magnolias, Blade Runner, and The Little Rascals less enjoyable? Of course not. BWFAA's aim from day one was to step away from the plethora of neurotypical-geared leadership training approaches and provide a leadership program that was uniquely designed for young autistic adults. We wanted to create a safe space for our students to be their authentic selves and to see themselves in our facilitators, all of whom are autistic themselves. It may not have always been our name, but we have been By, With and For Autistic Adults from the very beginning. hashtag #BWFAA hashtag #AutisticPride #Neurodiversity #Diversity #Inclusion #DisabilityAdvocacy If you're interested in our mission, please check out our website here: https://lnkd.in/eNXSu556 Our board members and staff (tagged for enhanced visibility and to allow interested parties to engage with us): David E Bartek CEO Beth Kimmel Autism Curriculum Director Lisa Richer Chair Ingrid Cooper Justice Vice Chair Jim Janetzke Treasurer Anne Carpenter Claire Fierro Michael Hoffarth John Tucker

🙌 ♾️ 🌈 On 19 June, the Department of Human Services SA released SA’s first Autism Strategy 2024-2029, a world first in autism inclusion. 🤝 In this article, our Marketing Coordinator Charlotte Whincup, who is proudly neurodivergent, unpacks the significance of the Strategy, what it means for corporate governance moving forward, and how easyread.tech will work to support its implementation. Read here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gr3N89yw #SAAutismStrategy

This week on Ableism In Action let’s take a look at the assumption there is only one way to have a good life. There are many ways to life your life, and a good life means different things to different people. For some people that means school, some it’s education other than school. It could be further education, or a job, volunteering, essential recovery time or something completely different. For some it’s a strong routine, or an abundance of flexibility. There are many different paths. For many of us, we often feel like we don’t have a good choice available and must take the least bad choice rather than what we actually want. For example, if school is causing significant trauma, home educating may be the only available option. Many Autistic people and families face issues when other people in our life don’t recognise our idea of a “good life” as being valid. This could be family members, or professionals whose role it is to support them. Making arbitrary judgements based on societal “norms” is a huge barrier to supporting Autistic people, and it’s essential we avoid doing so. Just because we don’t follow a prescribed path does not mean ours is not the right path for us. You may not see our progress but that doesn’t mean we aren’t progressing. Many Autistic people and families are shamed by others for making choices other than mainstream, and the impact that can have is why many Autistic people and their families would choose meeting the bear in the woods over the professional. How to show allyship? This is another easy one folks: listen. Properly listen to the Autistic person or family without judgement. They likely have had experiences you may not fully understand. Try to empathise with what they have been through and where they are now. Ask how you can make appointments more accessible and comfortable. If they have a goal they are working towards, help them to work towards that goal instead of invalidating it. If you are a professional and want to develop your understanding of Autistic lived experience to better support your clients, feel free to contact Aurora to discuss your training needs. #autism #autistic #training #ableism #allyship

I’ve seen this time and again! Working on the core deficits of ASD can help you in all areas, such as behavior issues, socialization, adaptability and academics, too! Read more about this in my newly published article. https://lnkd.in/dFyZz-z3 #presumecompetence #neurodiversity