Empower Autism’s Post

Thanks to the department of social services for presenting such a thorough evidence-based approach. While this strategy plan is well-crafted, I believe that it could benefit from placing a bit more emphasis on two specific sections. Firstly, there's a crucial need to enhance social and emotional support for families with autistic children, as it not only brings comfort to them but also enhances resources for the children themselves. Secondly, providing enhanced learning and technology support warrants greater consideration in the plan. Furthermore, recognizing and respecting the diversity within the autism community, including differences in culture, language, and socioeconomic status, is essential. Providing culturally competent and linguistically appropriate services can ensure that all families receive the support they need. Thanks you for offering assistance to those who require it

Despite society's increased understanding of autism, there are still several myths that prevail. These myths can be harmful and offensive to the autistic community. They can also stop autistic individuals from seeking support. Check out our new blog to discover more about the myths of autism and the facts that counteract them: https://lnkd.in/exyVR5VR

🌈HAPPY TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY 🌈 Today's Topic: Autism Awareness April is Autism Acceptance Month, and this month raises awareness about autism acceptance and promotes inclusion and connection with individuals with autism. People with autism experience the environment very differently, and therefore it’s important for planners to advocate for landscapes that represent individual's needs. The American Planning Association recommends a “Six Feelings Framework” that focuses on planning and designing around the feelings that adults with autism want to experience in a public space. These include feeling: 1. Connected (is easily reached and entered) 2. Free (offers autonomy) 3. Clear (makes sense) 4. Private (there are places for retreat) 5. Safe (minimal risk for injury) 6. Calm (mitigates physical sensory issues) The Six Feelings Framework helps planners create spaces and infrastructure that are more usable, comfortable, and beneficial to all constituents and ultimately provides inclusion in the community and the built environment in which we all live and thrive. Where are places near you that could benefit from this framework? Source: https://lnkd.in/ghAcqkng

The Autism Central London and Midlands Autism Hub have an email response service to support parents and carers of autistic people around the key challenges they are facing. When using this free service, parents and carers will be emailed by one of our Peer Educators with lived experience of autism with an email response surrounding their key challenges, and be signposted to local and national organisations that may be able to help. This service is for parents, carers, or those who care for autistic people (no diagnosis required) living in the Midlands or London. We have already had many families access this free service seeking information and signposting around understanding distressed behaviour, barriers to learning, autistic burnout, supporting sleep, understanding sensory processing and more. 👉 For Midlands-based families: https://bit.ly/3z68VKt 👉 For London-based families: https://bit.ly/3VscUsp

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. It also marks the start of the World Autism Acceptance Week. It is a day to remind ourselves that we need to go beyond mere autism awareness and embrace acceptance for autism acceptance fosters respect for autistic individuals for who we are. Autism acceptance celebrates neurodiversity and calls for a more inclusive environment where autistic persons can thrive and have the support and resources we need to flourish without being forced into the straitjacket of neurotypical behaviour. As this Editorial by Lancet points out "Being autistic is not a tragedy. Autism is a way of being, part of human neurodiversity and not a disordered or pathological process....Autistic people across intersections of race, gender, and communication types are clear that they do not need fixing or a cure, but rather recognition, acceptance, and support for their way of being." https://lnkd.in/gZ-jvF7e

It seemed a clear-cut decision over 20 years ago, choose my child newly diagnosed with Autism, or choose to worry about society's expectations of him or worse, expectations of my parenting. By choosing your child, you instill their confidence. You are showing them, by example, that their world may need to learn the skills to get along with their neurotypical peers, but their rhythm is their own. Help them find their unique place in the world and you’ll discover your scope has increased substantially in the process. More in this article from Aspergers101...

"Cruel optimism and ableist assumptions: Ableist discourse, the ‘good’ mother, and autism" - This thought-provoking study sheds light on how representations of autism and motherhood in media and society are deeply rooted in ableist narratives. The depiction of autism as something undesirable and the child as "trapped" within it places immense pressure on mothers to fight for an imagined "true" child. This creates a cruel cycle of attachment, where the mother is expected to keep hoping, fighting, and consuming, all while rejecting the neurodiverse child in front of her. Such narratives not only diminish the humanity of autistic individuals but also impose unrealistic and harmful expectations on mothers, reinforcing the idea that the child’s worth is tied to being "cured" of autism. We must challenge these harmful discourses by promoting acceptance of neurodiversity and understanding that the goal should not be to "fix" autistic children, but to embrace their unique strengths and perspectives. It’s time to move beyond ableist assumptions and celebrate the diversity that exists within the human experience. #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #Motherhood #Ableism https://lnkd.in/d9PpUpBR

Autistic Pride Day is an event celebrated in more than 50 countries. Today is a celebration for Autistic people, their families, and loved ones, and its intended purpose is to promote neurodiversity and celebrate the autostimulation aspect of autistic culture. Observed each year on June 18, it is meant to celebrate, raise awareness, promote acceptance, understanding, and demand support and services to enhance the lives of autistic people. This day also focuses on spreading awareness of autism, the people living with autism, and the need for their inclusion within our society. Autism does not look the same for everyone. It is entirely possible that you have both undiagnosed and diagnosed Autistic people in your everyday life, and you may be unaware of their neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is not something that needs to be cured; it needs to be celebrated, understood, and embraced in society. The neurotypical community has honestly done a poor job of making neurodiversity 'normal,' yet neurodivergent humans are expected to assimilate to a world that wasn't built with them in mind. If you believe that no one with Autism is in your network, you are mistaken. Autistic individuals are everywhere, and like all humans, no two of us are exactly alike. Today is Autistic Pride Day, but every day is a good day to learn more about and support communities like the Autistic community. #AutisticPrideDay

Today marks the start of World Autism Acceptance Week. Autistic people face discrimination and barriers across all sectors of society – in the health and social care systems, in education, in employment, and everywhere in between. It is crucial that autistic people, and their families and carers, can access tailored information, guidance and support to overcome those barriers, along with opportunities to explore their interests, develop skills and build friendships for fulfilled lives. Shockingly... Only 26% of autistic pupils feel happy at school. Only 29% of autistic people are in any form of employment. 70% of autistic people experience mental health problems. There are over 150,000 people on the waiting list for an autism assessment in the UK. This is NOT OK. All people bring something different, diverse and brilliant to the table, let's give everyone a seat.