Following the groundbreaking success of last year's inaugural event, the Autistic Pride Day Symposium is returning this June with an expanded vision, reaching both Melbourne and Sydney.
This significant, Autistic-led symposium promises to be a vibrant celebration of neurodiversity, empowerment, and community. With Melbourne hosting the event on June 8 and Sydney following on June 9, participants can look forward to two days filled with insightful panels, engaging workshops, and meaningful discussions, all designed to foster understanding, acceptance, and pride within the autistic community and beyond.
Organised by social enterprise Just Gold, the Symposium seeks to delve deeper into critical themes such as employment and entrepreneurship, workplace accommodations, creating safe spaces, neuroaffirming practices, and the portrayal of Autistic individuals in media.
EVENT FEATURES
Thematic Panels and Workshops: Central to the 2024 Symposium will be its emphasis on practical and impactful discussions surrounding employment and entrepreneurship for Autistic individuals.
Workplace Accommodations: A significant portion of the Symposium will be dedicated to addressing the critical need for appropriate workplace accommodations.
Safe Spaces and Neuroaffirming Practices: Recognising the importance of mental health and wellbeing, the Symposium will highlight the creation of safe spaces and the implementation of neuroaffirming practices.
Media Representation: With an eye on the current representations of Autistic people in media, the Symposium will engage in a constructive dialogue about how these portrayals impact public perception and the self-image of autistic individuals.
Think Autism Q&A in Sydney: The celebratory Q&A session, "Think Autism," this year will take place in Sydney. Think Autism promises to be a highlight, offering an open platform for dialogue, questions, and shared experiences, further enriching the Symposium’s collaborative atmosphere
MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
We are thrilled to unveil the program for the Autistic Pride Day Symposium 2024, set for June 8th in Melbourne and June 9th in Sydney. These events promise a series of enriching panels and workshops designed to foster understanding, inclusion, and empowerment for autistic individuals. Tickets are now on sale, with accessible options for community access and opportunities for companies to sponsor tickets for community members.
Melbourne Program Highlights:
10:30 AM - Panel 1: Neurodivergent Health Practitioners: Insights and Innovations, featuring Dr Naomi Malone and Dr Judy Tang
11:15 AM - Panel 2: National and State Autism Strategies: Opportunities, Challenges, and Impact, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Sharon Zivkovic, Rebecca McCash, and Sofia Neale. Concurrently, Workshop 1: Autism in the Workplace: Know Your Rights, led by Tammie Sinclair
12:00 PM - Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - Panel 3: Autistic Entrepreneurship: Building a Support Ecosystem in Australia, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Sharon Zivkovic, Rebecca McCash, and Roo Harris. Concurrently, Workshop 2: Unlocking Support, led by Anita Aherne
2:00 PM - Panel 4: Autism and Disability: Perspectives and Intersections, featuring Rosie Putland, Jacob Alan and Ezra Burnett. Concurrently, Workshop 3: Surviving to Thriving, led by Rebecca McCash
3:00 PM - Panel 5: Autistic Led Solutions for Autistic People: Technology Focus, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Michelle Ridsdale, and Roo Harris
Sydney Program Highlights:
10:15 AM - Panel 1: Understanding Autism: Neurodivergent Health Practitioners' Perspectives on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Public Perception, featuring Dr Judy Tang, Dr Naomi Malone, Shristi Chand and Georgia Zentrich
11:15 AM - Panel 2: Autistic Led Solutions for Autistic People: Programs, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Tammie Sinclair, Rebecca McCash, and Anita Aherne
12:00 PM - Networking Lunch
12:45 PM - Film Screening: Neuromance, introduced by Kyle Goldfinch
1:00 PM - Panel 3: Media Representation of Autistic People: Challenges, Progress, and the Path Forward, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Kyle Goldfinch, and Sandra Thom-Jones. Concurrently, Workshop 1: Autism in the Workplace: Know Your Rights, led by Tammie Sinclair
2:00 PM - Panel 4: Embracing Neurodiversity in Education: Building Neuroaffirming Learning Environments for Autistic Students, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Diana Tan and Marion Rabuka Concurrently, Workshop 2: Surviving to Thriving, led by Rebecca McCash
3:00 PM - Panel 5: Autistic Entrepreneurship: Autistic Cognition and Business Development, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Sharon Zivkovic, Roo Harris, and Christina Chun
4:00 PM - Panel 6: Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Autistic Individuals: Strategies for Inclusion and Success, featuring Kyriakos Gold, Rebecca McCash, Tammie Sinclair, and Sandra Thom-Jones
5:00 PM - Q&A: Think Autism, moderated by Kyriakos Gold, with participation from all speakers
6:15 PM - Networking Drinks
The Sydney event is made possible by the City of Sydney, showcasing their commitment to supporting neurodiverse communities and invisible disabilities.
2024 AUTISTIC PRIDE DAY THEME: #TAKING OFF THE MASK
For too long, Autistic individuals have felt pressure to camouflage their authentic Autistic traits and behaviours - suppressing natural stimming, masking special interests, and altering communication styles. On this Autistic Pride Day, June 18th, 2024 and everyday we're inviting the entire Autism community to join us in Taking Off the Mask.
The 2024 theme celebrates unmasking our true, unashamed, unapologetically Autistic selves. It's about openly embracing the traits and expressions that make us uniquely neurodivergent, without forcing behaviours to fit neurotypical norms and expectations.
Whether that means stimming freely, talking about restricted interests, or simply being comfortable in your own natural communication style - we want you to take pride in your unmasked autistic identity.
AUTISTIC PRIDE DAY 2024 TOOLKIT
The Autistic Pride Day Symposium is powered by the Autistic Pride Day Free Digital Toolkit (www.autisticprideday.org) a comprehensive resource we have created for organisations and individuals worldwide. This toolkit provides valuable information, practical tools, and guidance to support Autistic individuals in various aspects of life. By leveraging this toolkit, we ensure that our symposium is not only informative but also accessible and beneficial to all attendees.
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