Amaze

Do you know or support others who may need access to expert autism information and advice?  Autism Connect is a free, national autism helpline, providing independent and expert information over phone, email, webchat and a searchable resource directory. Help autistic people and their supporters discover Autism Connect by ordering or downloading our free printed materials to share with your network. The order form now includes Amaze's popular "What is autism?" poster. The poster lists some of the communication and behavioural characteristics that autistic people may display. https://lnkd.in/g8a68_gf

Upcoming FREE Webinar ➡️ Managing Autistic Burnout and Wellbeing for Adults Join us on Tuesday 18th June, 12:30PM-1:30PM, for a 1-hour webinar focusing on understanding and managing Autistic burnout. Explore the causes of burnout, learn practical prevention strategies, and gain insight into effective recovery strategies. 🔎 Follow the link below to register or share it with someone who might be interested in attending! ⬇️ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/emDNysTw

We congratulate the Australian Government, the Department of Social Services (DSS), and the Hon. Minister Amanda Rishworth MP and her team on its commitment to developing a National Autism Strategy (Strategy). We also acknowledge the work that has been undertaken to date by the Department, Oversight Council and Working Groups, in co-design and consultation with the Autistic and broader Australian community. The Strategy provides an exciting and long overdue opportunity to address the whole of life needs of all Autistic people and improve their life outcomes. In principle we support the draft Strategy’s vison, goals and commitments to strengthen social and economic inclusion, and improve access to quality service provision and assessment and diagnosis. However, we are concerned that the Strategy lacks specificity, timeframes and the accountability measures that will be needed to evaluate its success and inform future learnings. We are also concerned that the commitments in the draft Strategy contain some significant gaps (including in relation to people with complex and high support needs and their parents and carers, vulnerable intersectional cohorts and across housing, justice, the NDIS, education, employment, and research) and that it may not have been adequately informed by a diversity of lived experience, particularly from vulnerable Autistic cohorts. We therefore recommend that the final Strategy: 1. Include a comprehensive and accountable goal: to improve the daily experiences and life outcomes of all Autistic people and close the gaps between Autistic and non-Autistic Australians. 2. Provide specific and measurable actions, targets and timeframes, with a robust Outcomes Framework. 3. Address gaps in the draft Strategy, including by committing to targeted actions for people with complex and high support needs and their parents and carers, and vulnerable intersectional cohorts. 4. Be informed by and ensure a diversity of Autistic voices and perspectives, and those of parents and carers, are informing the Strategy’s development. To read our submission in full, visit https://lnkd.in/gF4nXeCH.

This week marks National Reconciliation Week #NRW2024 from 27 May to 3 June. Inclusion, equity, agency and respect have always been at the heart of who we are. We exist to create an autism inclusive Australia that enables all Autistic people and their families to live their best lives, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The theme for #NRW2024 is Now More Than Ever – a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will, and must, continue.   We are committed to strengthening our ties to and support of Indigenous peoples and communities. It is only by listening to their stories, recognising their past and current injustices endured, reflecting, and working to actively correct these injustices that we can be a better and stronger ally towards achieving true reconciliation.    Amaze was proud to begin our Reconciliation journey last year with our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, and we look forward to continuing this important work with the next step. You can read our Reflect Reconciliation Plan here: https://lnkd.in/g4r8eeiG.

Today is National Sorry Day. A day of reflection, where we remember and honour the Stolen Generation, and recognise the injustices Aboriginal people continue to experience. We stand in solidarity with indigenous communities and will continue to work towards building an autism inclusive Australia for all Autistic people.

📣We’re excited to be attending the upcoming Adult and Community Education Victoria Conference on June 14 at Swinburne Hawthorn Campus in Melbourne. Featuring a range of speakers and presentations, this event is designed to empower attendees with new ideas, connections, and practical strategies that you can take into your practice in the adult and community education space. The conference is suitable for both seasoned professionals and those just starting out in their career.   Conference speakers include Darlene McLennan (Manager of the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training), Matthew Dale (Tertiary Education Professional & Policy Advisor) and Louisa Ellum (Director of Pathways and Engagement at Swinburne University of Technology) just to name a few. Amaze CEO, Jim Mullan, will speak on the value of the adult education community for Autistic people as well as a presentation by the Amaze team on supporting Autistic people to achieve positive outcomes in their learning journey. To find out more or secure your tickets, visit https://lnkd.in/gmiwvg4x.

Today is #IDAHOBIT, the International Day against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination.  At Amaze, we remain dedicated to driving change and fostering a world where Autistic individuals and their families can thrive and live their best lives. We commit ourselves to advocating for equal rights, promoting inclusivity, and creating a future that empowers all Autistic people.  🌈 Amaze is committed to a world that respects the dignity of every Autistic person and we proudly stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, especially Autistic LGBTQIA+ people. We recognise and celebrate the rich diversity within our community and affirm that everyone deserves love, acceptance, and support.    Amaze has two resource information sheets which we hope our community find useful:  • "When your child is transgender/gender diverse"  • "Resources about transgender/gender diverse youth for parents of Autistic young people" You can access these resources via Autism Connect search here: https://lnkd.in/eVjif933

Amaze welcomes the NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track – No.1) Bill as a first step towards NDIS reform. We understand that the Bill mostly contains enabling legislation, with legislative powers to create rules and exercise other powers to give effect to, or a legislative framework for the reforms. However, we are concerned that the proposed definition of NDIS Supports in section 10 of the Bill is unduly narrow and will limit choice and control over reasonable and necessary, evidence-informed supports for Autistic participants. We recommend that the Australian Government review the proposed definition of NDIS supports and consider including supports necessary to enable participants to live and be included in the home, as well as the community. Additionally, we strongly propose that the Review and development of the definition of NDIS Supports be undertaken in co-design with people with disability, including a diverse representation of Autistic people and the wider sector. A Co-design Framework for all next steps to be taken under the Act (including the development of rules, needs assessments and budget models etc.,) should be attached to the Bill and tabled in parliament. You can read our submission in full below or at this link: https://lnkd.in/g8sDTjEZ.  

LAST CHANCE TO SECURE YOUR SPOT 📣 The International Society for Autism Research, INSAR will be hosting a special one-day community conference next Wednesday (15 May 2024) at the State Library of Victoria. The Diversity of Autism: From Data to Wellbeing community conference will feature a diverse range of guest presenters covering topics including Dr Wenn Lawson, Associate Professor Adriana Di Martino, Professor Matthew Siegal and Professor Susan Shur-Fen Gau Susan. There will also be a special panel discussion hosted by Professor Sandra Thom-Jones. Tickets are limited and selling fast so to avoid disappointment, book yours online today here: https://lnkd.in/gqXY7252. We look forward to seeing you at this unique and rare opportunity to hear from a diverse range of local and global voices in the autism and research space!

“The entire way we fund education, build schools and deliver education needs radical change and investment. Australia could lead the way in inclusion to show the world how it’s done. Will our government be so brave as to authentically invest in our children?” An interesting perspective from a person with lived experience as both a teacher and parent of an Autistic child in The Guardian Australia this week. To read the article in full, visit https://lnkd.in/giysDKbp.