Thread by @aimee_speaks

As well as sharing my poster at @ITAKOM_CONF, I contributed a video to the Stories from the Spectrum call.

During the 'Neurodivergent Stories from Real Life', I share a very important personal experience that helped to shape my journey as an autistic so far & all the work I do.

The video is a one-take address to the camera. I do not have a script, I spoke from my heart in order to capture the most authentic version of my story.

My video is about the importance of neurodivergent role models, of listening to ND voices and supporting us to be ourselves.

I hope that any #ITAKOM delegates who see it can resonate with the message, & that it might be useful to fellow ND people on the journey of self-discovery, self-love & self-belief.

I'm not sure I'll make the sessions due to conflict with others, but I am happy to chat about it.

One last tweet(s) on this topic. I only began tweeting about being autistic in 2019, & only "came out" publicly as ND to people I have known since childhood on personal social media in 2020 after attending the NAS Prof Conf in 2020.

This wasn't because I wasn't proud of who I am

It was because I was diagnosed as a child, during a time where there was a lack of awareness (nevermind understanding). My first exposure to my diagnosis in the media was usually negative: stereotyped male characters & as a diagnosis sought during public crime trials.

The lack of public awareness, the ridicule that you would face in schools (seeing a friend bullied out of the school for being autistic) made it scary to tell people, because society at that time did not understand nor seem interested in learning more.

I would educate quietly.

I would take any opportunity I could as a teenage girl to talk about Autism. I presented about my diagnosis for an assessed talk (I got marked down for eye contact...). I organised my school's 1st assembly led by autistic students in my final year & spoke to teachers about it.

Teachers seemed willing to learn, some very clearly wanted to understand more how to support their students, but they didn't have access to the resources/training they would need. I volunteered in classes and supported ND students, I wanted to become a teacher to help others.

I did all of this without being "out". As soon as I finished school, I started volunteering in a club with young people, then got a job there and worked in various roles for 6 years supporting ND young people. I spoke openly to them before being open publicly because I knew the..

Importance of having an adult role model to speak to about being ND, because I didn't have it and craved having someone who understood my experiences from their own experiences to talk to.

"I haven't ever met an autistic adult" - the openness once we had that convo was crucial.

I didn't meet another openly autistic woman in person until 2016. I was diagnosed in 2003 & told my diagnosis in 2006.

I went 10yrs not knowing another autistic woman/girl. I don't want ND young people (& adults) experiencing this. It is why the community is so important to me.