Through Nformed Consulting, my mission is to advocate for the rights, education, and well-being of autistic individuals. Sadly, my passionate and vocal advocacy efforts are sometimes met with opposition, but I understand that this comes with the role.
I want to take a moment to share my intentions, and emphasise the necessity (and responsibility) of speaking out against harmful practices.
My intentions are grounded in a deep concern for the rights and well-being of autistic individuals, driven initially by my personal experiences as a parent, teacher, and autistic individual.
I have witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by our community, further reinforced by my active participation within it… and I’m committed to creating positive change.
I often find myself in uncomfortable and awkward positions that I would prefer to avoid, where something has been brought to my attention and I have to determine whether to address concerns or look the other way. While I would sometimes love to ‘let things go’, as I’m often advised to do, because I’m told people get tired of me always talking about autism and challenging people’s ideas or practice… I believe that remaining silent in the face of harmful practices would be a disservice to the individuals I aim to support. And being somebody with a strong sense of justice… I just can’t! No matter how much grief and heartache I know my actions will cause me… as sadly, it appears people like myself are often not welcomed for challenging the status quo.
But harmful practices or outdated knowledge deeply troubles me. And if I have the knowledge and expertise to identify and challenge malpractice, I will. I believe that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, so if I become aware of practice that goes against these principles or poses harm to autistic individuals, I feel a sense of obligation to address them.
At times my passion and emotional investment has been misconstrued as being ego driven, as though I’m trying to compete with or assert my authority over professionals, who I’ve been told ‘always know better’. I’ve also been asked why I think my voice is so special, and why I’m arrogant enough to believe that I know more than the professionals who have worked in this field for decades.
I want to make it clear that my intention is not to overshadow or dismiss the expertise of professionals. I wholeheartedly acknowledge that there are many wonderful, forward thinking professionals who clearly care about their patients and students, and strive to continually update themselves and their practice. However, it is not realistic or accurate to suggest that all professionals are experts. I have come across doctors and teachers, for example, who are very well meaning, but hold such out of date attitudes and approaches, that their practice is harmful.
So while I don’t claim to be an expert, as I’m not entirely sure this even exists within an area where knowledge is so rapidly evolving… as somebody who has experience from multiple perspectives, that possesses a ‘special interest’ in autism and all things connected to it, I do have a lot of value to offer. And this has been validated by many professionals who I have worked with on a range of projects over the years, as well as professionals I have met through my children deeming me to be ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ and ‘ahead of the curve’.
I believe in amplifying autistic voices and encouraging people to share their perspectives, alongside those of professionals. Lived experience is so incredibly valuable, and this insight should be sought in any work involving services for autistic people.
I invite open and respectful dialogue with professionals, parents, and advocates alike, so we can bridge gaps in understanding, share knowledge, and work towards creating an environment that respects the diverse needs of autistic individuals. Collaboration and mutual respect are key to achieving the best outcomes for our community.
As an autistic individual, I have experienced a lot of trauma and ableism, both personally and in my roles as a parent, advocate, and teacher. These experiences have shaped my perspective and fuelled my commitment to challenge the systems around us, particularly in health and education.
I have a genuine desire to create meaningful change, and although some people have critiqued me for challenging professionals, I will not apologise for being passionate and advocating for what is right.
My goal is to challenge outdated practices and promote a better understanding of neurodiversity, to create a more inclusive society.
Although I am the face and main consultant at Nformed Consulting, a lot of my work is challenged, informed by and forever evolving due to my participation in the autistic community, as well as my interactions and relationships with some passionate professionals and parents.
The path to understanding and support is a collective effort, and I’m proud to be one of so many trying to make a difference for our children and future generations, so they don’t grow up facing the same challenges that we did.
I invite open dialogue, collaboration and a shared commitment to the well-being of autistic individuals. Together, we can challenge ableism, dismantle barriers, and create a society that values and embraces the diversity of the autistic community.
Photo credit: Polina Kovaleva
