ABOUT

Do you know any children or young people who you think might be experiencing autistic burnout? Are you finding it difficult to know where to turn or what to do to support and help them?

Jodie Clarke is an AuDHD researcher and autism practitioner, with a passion for lifting up the voices of autistic children in their experiences of masking and burnout. She has worked with neurodivergent children and young people all her adult life. As an experienced practitioner with a PG cert and MA in Autism, Jodie works directly with families by carrying out assessments for educational needs and mentors young people. Her new book, Stop The World I Want To Get Off, is due to be published in January 2025 and is a guide to understanding and supporting children and young people in the recovery from autistic burnout.

Jodie has also self-published a book aimed at autistic teenagers about burnout, called Young, Autistic & Burnt Out.

As a community, many of us at AutAngel have neurodivergent children and young people in our own families and can see the toll that autistic burnout can have on them. The AutAngel team can also recall some of our own experiences of burnout as children and young people, and understand the importance of Jodie’s work around this subject. We are very much looking forward to hearing Jodie speak about how to identify autistic burnout, how to support young people with burnout, and how to walk with them through their recovery.

LOCATION

Online event at 18:30 Monday 20th January 2024

Book here

ABOUT

This festive season is upon us and our senses are tingling with the aromas of yuletide candles, the sweet taste of mulled wine, the beautiful lights in our streets and homes and the sound of jingling bells and slightly questionable Christmas songs blasting out on our radios. However, as joyous at this occasion can be, it can also be rather overwhelming and for many neurodivergent people and their families, this can cause a lot of additional stress. So, how do we navigate this?

This December, AutAngel will be hosting a Christmas Quiz and Coping Tips event. The quiz will be light-hearted, with four rounds:

– General Christmas

– Christmas Film Pictures (with verbal descriptions)

– Christmas Around the World

– Christmas songs – Finish the song line

We are inviting you to come and take part as teams or individuals, whether you’re wearing your Christmas jumpers or your most comfortable attire. Children over the age of 13 will be welcome to attend with adult supervision, but please bear in mind that we cannot guarantee that the chat or content of conversation will be suitable for children – so this is your judgement call. If you are booking as a team, you will need to share one screen as there will be no breakout rooms. Teams will only need to buy one ticket and we will leave it to you to decide how much to donate for this.

Prior to the event, we are asking for people to send in their questions and thoughts around how to cope well during the festive season via this survey link: https://s.surveyplanet.com/6d7qgny0. We will use some of the questions asked in this survey as part of our event.

After the quiz, we will be delving into the Q&A with a twist as we will be asking our experts by lived experience (our neurodivergent audience) to comment in the chat about how they cope at Christmas and New Year. After the event, we will compile the tips and tricks and send them out to anyone who has purchased a ticket.

Quiz answers will be revealed at the end and feel free to share your scores in the chat.

It’s important to us to be able to welcome people regardless of financial means however we have significant running costs, so we ask that if, if you are able to, you donate £5.00 or more. If you missed the previous talks mentioned here, you can make a donation and send the receipt to info@autangel.org.uk requesting the relevant talk.

We send a recording to everyone who gets a ticket for the event. It helps us if you let us know if you aren’t planning to attend live.

Sign up here for occasional updates about our online talks and other events.

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 16th December 2024.

ABOUT

Would you like to explore neurodiversity through the creative medium of poetry, infused with humour and a dash of Doctor Who? Well, this event is for you! Filled with autistic joy as well as deep thought, we hope that you will leave this event with a little spring in your step and feelings of validation and self-acceptance.

Stand up poet and Radio 4 regular Kate Fox will be joining AutAngel to share poems from her neurodiversity show “Bigger on The Inside”. Joyous, uplifting and revealing, this show has been delighting audiences who see their late-diagnosed selves reflected back.

She’ll also share new poems from her book “On Sycamore Gap”, published by Harper North. And talk about the links between tree and fungal roots and the connections between neurodivergent people. And about how considering biodiversity and neurodiversity together can help neurodivergent people find a deeper acceptance of their rooted selves.

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 18th November 2024.

ABOUT

Neurodiversity inclusion is being talked about more and more in the world of work, but what does it actually mean? How can workplaces adapt to a neurodiverse workforce?

AutAngel will be hosting a panel of speakers to explore this important yet complicated topic. Currently, the statistics around employment for neurodivergent people are quite horrifying, and it is becoming clear that changes need to be made. From reasonable adjustments to neurodiversity training, there is a lot that can be done to ensure that people are valued, included and supported in the workplace. Last month, Ethical Reading facilitated an interesting discussion about neurodiversity in the workplace and we hope to continue this conversation, which aims to be helpful and hopeful for the neurodivergent community and employers.

We will be joined by our panel who will give their insights, thoughts and experiences about neurodiversity and the workplace. The panel will include Kathryn McCann of Ethical Reading, Sarah Batt, Jamie Gordon and Becky Whinnerah.

Sarah Batt is a Global Co-Chair for Enable, NatWest’s colleague-led network for disability & neurodiversity. Sarah’s been with NatWest Group for 20 years, starting in Regulatory Compliance and over the years having a number of data and governance-centric roles. Sarah’s now a Commercial Channel Management Lead in the Bank’s Financial Crime Hub.

Jamie Gordon was diagnosed with ADHD in 2020 and now runs an in person adult ADHD support group, called Reading ADHD Group. He also campaigns for better government funded resources for the ADHD community and is currently involved in Reading Borough Councils new “working together” group. He has a particular interest in reasonable adjustments outside the corporate world, and would like to see more representation for the ADHD community across sectors.

Becky Whinnerah is the Project Lead for The Count Me In Collective, a not for profit community project to set up a training brewery for disabled people in Reading. The committee includes able bodied , physically disabled, neurotypical and neurodivergent people. Several of the committee are also parent carers of children with very wide ranging disabilities. They are focussed on training those who face barriers to work due to their disabilities (such as learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, mobility issues, chronic pain etc). The brewery, once up and running, will give people the experience and training that will hopefully lead to decent employment within the trade.

By organising this event, we hope to raise further awareness into the issue but also give lived-experience insights into how we can move forward positively, and what is already being done. There will also be the opportunity for audience members to ask questions to the panel in the latter part of the event.

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 21st October 2024. A recording of this event is available for a donation (minimum £1, suggested £5, more is also welcome). If you’d like to access the recording, please contact us.

ABOUT

Dr. Rebecca Wood is a former teacher and autism educator practitioner who is the Principal Investigator of The Autistic School Staff Project and a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow, teaching the M.Ed in Inclusive Education programme. She will be joined by AutAngel staff member, Jess Rees, who has first-hand experience of what it is like to be an autistic teacher. Jess taught in primary schools in the UK and abroad before discovering that she was autistic in 2023. It was at this time that she came across one of Rebecca’s published books; Learning from Autistic Teachers, and it filled her with hope for the future of her neurodivergent colleagues and the children she taught.

It is no secret that our school systems were not initially designed with autistic children in mind, and it takes a lot of reframing, understanding, collaboration and commitment from school staff and parents to ensure that autistic children flourish in an educational environment. In her book, Inclusive Education for Autistic Children, Rebecca’s passion for prioritising autistic viewpoints really shines through, as she welcomed input and guidance from autistic children and adults, including autistic parents and teachers. Her drive for a truly inclusive environment for neurodivergent children and school staff is inspirational.

She stated: “I discovered that while exclusion can be multi-faceted, inclusion can be too, and that school staff, autistic children and their parents often work creatively and flexibly to make it work.” (Inclusive Education for Autistic Children, p. 19)

We especially welcome parents and school staff to attend this event, and there will be an opportunity for questions at the end of the presentation.

It’s important to us to be able to welcome people regardless of financial means however we have significant running costs, so we ask that if, if you are able to, you donate £5.00 or more. If you missed the previous talks mentioned here you can make a donation and send the receipt to info@autangel.org.uk requesting the relevant talk.

We send a recording to everyone who gets a ticket for the event. It helps us if you let us know if you aren’t planning to attend live.

Sign up here for occasional updates about our online talks and other events.

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 9th September 2024.

ABOUT

Gender diversity within the autistic community is wonderfully varied. Research by the University of Cambridge has found that transgender and gender-diverse adults were more likely to be autistic compared to cisgender people. Therefore, mutual support and allyship between transgender and autistic communities is vital to maintain a safe environment. It has also been found that autistic young people can particularly struggle to access sufficient gender affirming care, and trans people may have their autistic traits overlooked due to assumptions that they cannot be both autistic and transgender. How can we navigate this? What needs to change? How can we best support our trans autistic community?

We will be joined by Lee, a Senior Trainer Consultant from Gendered Intelligence, a trans-led organisation. As an organisation, Gendered Intelligence works to increase the understanding of gender diversity and improve the lives of trans people. They deliver a range of services to the trans community and offer training to organisations who want to improve their inclusive practice. Lee is a qualified trainer and has extensive experience of training and group facilitation within the trans community. Being visible in the work they do for Gendered Intelligence and in their life is important to their sense of self and they are proud of their trans identity and experience. AutAngel staff member, Jess Rees, will be joining Lee for an interview to raise trans awareness and how it links to the autistic community. Check out the Gendered Intelligence website for support and resources at Gendered Intelligence.

It’s important to us to be able to welcome people regardless of financial means however we have significant running costs, so we ask that if, if you are able to, you donate £5.00 or more.

This will be a LIVE EVENT ONLY and there will be no recording for this particular event, so please join the Zoom on the day.

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 15th July 2024.

ABOUT

What is autistic burnout? According to Judy Endow, it “is a state of physical and mental fatigue, heightened stress and diminished capacity to manage life skills, sensory input and social interactions, which comes from years of being severely overtaxed by the strain of trying to live up to demands that are out of sync with your needs”. It’s common, and commonly recognised, amongst the autistic population, yet still little understood by professionals.

Viv Dawes is a late-identified and diagnosed autistic and ADHD lived experience advocate, writer and trainer. She’s also the parent of a ND teenager. Viv has over 25 years’ experience of working with vulnerable young people and adults, who have mostly been neurodivergent. She regularly delivers training on autistic burnout, and her website has a host of useful related resources.

It’s important to us to be able to welcome people regardless of financial means however we have significant running costs, so we ask that if, if you are able to, you donate £5.00 or more.

We send a recording to everyone who gets a ticket for the event. It helps us if you let us know if you aren’t planning to attend live. 

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 20th May 2024.

ABOUT

Steve Silberman is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity – a book we regularly recommend to people who are seeking context around autism. Steve will be reflecting on how the understanding of autism and neurodiversity has transformed since the publication in 2015 of NeuroTribes, in conversation with Jess Rees, who was recently diagnosed as autistic, and is now a staff member at AutAngel.

There will be Q&As following the interview.

It’s important to us to be able to welcome people regardless of financial means however we have significant running costs, so we ask that if, if you are able to, you donate £5.00 or more.

We send a recording to everyone who gets a ticket for the event. It helps us if you let us know if you aren’t planning to attend live.

Sign up here for occasional updates about our online talks and other events.

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 29th April 2024.

ABOUT

By popular request Nat will return to our AutAngel event space and answer your questions about their previous talks on The Elephant in the Room, Autism and Dissociation and Chronic Unaddressed Toxic Stress.

Many autistic people are initially unidentified and or misdiagnosed. The Elephant in the Room talk explored some of the reasons for this using an analogy based on the fable of the experts each only able to examine one part of a huge elephant. If they only have the tail, it’s a rope, the tusks are a spear, the ears a fan, the leg a tree trunk and so on. Each expert has a specialism in one part of the elephant, but none of them are delivering a diagnosis of ‘elephant’ because they never meet to compare notes.
The talk on CUTS reviewed research showing how autistic children are more prone to chronic stress, and the range of physical and mental health issues that can result if this isn’t properly addressed. Building from concepts of sensory trauma and adverse childhood experiences, Nat will suggest reframing long term autistic stress responses through the lens of Chronic Unaddressed Toxic Stress, or ‘CUTS’.

The talk on the Autism Dissociation Association examined the connections between autism and the dissociative response, looks at the surprising overlaps in experiences between autistic and dissociative support communities, and advocates for a change in perspective on autism, dissociation and chronic, unaddressed toxic stress.
Dissociation is a psychological defense mechanism where the conscious mind becomes distanced from the outside world, or from the feelings and memories it provokes. This is a common, natural response to unbearable experiences. Dissociative disorders develop when the mind learns to distance itself as a habit and forms an instinctual dissociative response to the stresses of daily life.

LOCATION

This was an online event at 18:30 on Monday 4th March.

ABOUT

People who feel the need for help and support naturally turn to therapy. Historically, autistic people have had mixed experiences with therapy. This conversation with an autistic therapist will examine how autistic people can get the best out of therapy.

Siana McGarvey has been a therapist since 2002; however she only realised she was autistic 5 years ago. She has found that gradually embracing her autistic identity has led to major shifts in her self-understanding and compassion for herself.

Caroline Hearst is the founder of AutAngel. Caroline trained as an art psychotherapist and also consumed copious amounts of therapy before the discovering she was autistic in her 50’s and developing training about autism for therapists.

Siana believes that therapy works through the close attention given by the therapist to the client. This supports the healing and integration of the aspects of the client which have been harmed, denied and suppressed. In turn it then helps aspects of the personality which have been over-working to keep this all this at bay to soften and change.

Siana will be talking to Caroline about how neurodivergent people can choose an appropriate therapist. Siana will also talk about her own neuro-affirmative practice.

Siana’s website: www.therapywithsiana.com 

Together with a fellow autistic therapist Siana co-hosts a podcast about intersectional therapy: Autistic Licence | a podcast by autisticlicence (podbean.com)

This is one of an occasional series of autism-related talks offered by AutAngel, which is a community interest company run by and for autistic adults. We rely on the generosity of your contributions to provide these talks, and we want them to be available to all so the tickets are by donation. For those who can afford it, our recommended donation is £5, but we are grateful for any amount you donate, and we very much appreciate larger donations.

There will be Q&As following the conversation.

Please join us for what promises to be a fascinating conversation and Q&A session!

We send a recording to everyone who gets a ticket for the event. It helps us if you let us know if you aren’t planning to attend live.

Sign up here for occasional updates about our online talks and other events.

LOCATION

This was an online event on Monday 12th February 2024.