Event overview
Dr Jac Den Houting: Research psychologist and Autistic activist. Jac was identified at Autistic at the age of 25 and is proudly neurodivergent. Jac currently holds the role of Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Educational Studies at Macquarie University in Sydney. Jac will draw from a combination of personal and research experience to explore the issues of gender and sexuality in the Autistic community. Jac will focus primarily on the intersection between Autistic and LGBTQIA+ identities, highlighting the experiences of this particularly marginalised section of the Autistic community. Jac will also discuss recent findings from a Macquarie University research project investigating parents', teachers', and young peoples' perspectives on sex and relationships education for young Autistic people.
Barb Cook: Developmental educator, Master of Autism (Education), Autism and Neurodiversity consultant, member Developmental Educators Australia Inc, editor and author. Barb, who was formally identified on the autism spectrum along with ADHD and phonological dyslexia in 2009 at the age of 40, will talk about how autistic people often experience challenges in exercising skills associated with self-determination and self-advocacy, being pinnacle life skills that drive their success in education, employment, independence and within society. With the right supports, tools and strategies, autistic people can develop high levels of self-determination, providing a firm sense of self-confidence. Working together as a community, as parents, partners, caregivers, health professionals, educators and employers, we can be part of the process in guiding, building and supporting autistic people in attaining these skills and empowering them in determining a future that is directed by their visions, dreams and goals for their future.
Summer Farrelly: Summer, 12, from Bundaberg, is an autism advocate and artist who wants to prove that anything and everything is possible for someone who lives with autism. She will talk about her companion chickens and how they helped her understand herself, her autism and the dynamics of the school playground, and the strategies she has developed to survive the 'pecking order'. Summer will also share details of the world-first Animal Assisted Learning Program she developed when she was 10, her passion for chicken art and passion for creating inclusion within social spaces and community events, and her art.
Rachel Aberdein: Rachel is a Brisbane researcher and musician on the autism spectrum. Rachel works as a research assistant at Queensland University of Technology and has worked on various projects around autism and education. Rachel will talk about the importance of not compromising - of being who you are to get a life that you want, and focus on personal experience and the ways in which the gender-based expectations that are placed on women and girls affect women and girls on the spectrum. Rachel believes autistic people can achieve great things if they are given the right tools and supports, and that the way to know what the right tools and supports are is to listen to autistic people.
Emma Tomlinson: Emma is an artist, musician and autism advocate who is completing her third and final year of a Bachelor of Creative Industries, music major, at the University of Sunshine Coast. Diagnosed at 4, music has allowed Emma to express emotion and saved her from bullying. Her vision is to show other females on the spectrum that with determination and love you can achieve your dreams. She also aims to increase awareness of the supports needed to help individuals on the spectrum achieve these goals.
Danielle Tomlinson: Artist, RN and Emma's mother and manager, Danielle received a diagnosis of Aspergers in 2006 and is recovering from a traumatic brain injury acquired in 2014. She will talk about how she had unknowingly slotted people into certain characters to help her predict their behaviours. This strategy, developed in childhood, she later found out was a coping mechanism associated with her Aspergers against bullying or anticipated bullying.
Dr Caitlin Taggart: Coordinator Vocational Programs and Lead Occupational Therapist, Autism Queensland. Caitlin will discuss research findings about how early experiences can influence later life – ie. diagnostic process, how we explain and understand autism, language we use, social reactions to autism etc; as well as the ways females use social strategies (like being a social chameleon) to cope.
Autism Queensland acknowledges St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School for their support of this event.