Jade Smith’s Post

Autism in Black aims to provide support to Black parents who have a autistic child, through educational and advocacy services. Autism in Black is dedicated to bringing awareness to Autism and reducing the stigma in the black community. Call for Speakers Autism in Black is proud to present the inaugural Black Autistic Girls and Women’s Virtual Summit, a groundbreaking event dedicated to addressing the unique needs and experiences of Black autistic girls and women. This summit is designed to create a safe, inclusive, and empowering space where voices that are often overlooked in research and conversations can be heard and celebrated. We are looking for autistic individuals, parents, professionals, and more to present on the below topics. The summit will be held virtually on October 19th, 2024. Proposals are due by June 28th. Proposals received prior to June 28th, will receive priority consideration. Presenters will be notified during the week of July 8th regarding the status of their proposal and any requested edits. We are looking for the following areas of discussion: - Navigating Puberty with Confidence - Embracing Your Menstrual Cycle - Self-Advocacy and Independence - Transitioning into Womanhood - Creating Supportive Environments at Home and School - Mental Health and Emotional Well-being - Building Social Skills and Friendships - Exploring Career Paths and Future Planning - Safety, Boundaries, and Healthy Relationships - The Power of Community and Finding Your Community - The Journey to Independence - Bridging Worlds: Open Communication Between Mothers and Daughters - Embracing Love: Navigating Dating and Relationships - Career Launchpad: Preparing for the Job Market - Guidance with Grace: Discipline and Positive Support Find out more and sign up at this link https://buff.ly/3x0kPou #Autism #AutismInBlack #DisabilityRights #Inclusion Image: Young Black girl with pink ribbons in her hair holding a tennis racket and a ball.

On #WorldAutismAwareness day, sharing a few thoughts from a recent blog. I hope today, and everyday, we can continue to raise awareness and increase acceptance through true inclusion in our lives, communities and organizations. For me, it is a life calling as a Mom, and a privilege to do so alongside my son. #Autismawareness #Acceptance #Inclusion

Check out my latest article for easyread.tech breaking down the State Autism Strategy! 😊 ♾️ 🌈 Looking forward to seeing more positive outcomes in autism inclusion, and neurodivergence more broadly, over the next 5 years 🙌 🌻

🙌 ♾️ 🌈 On 19 June, the Department of Human Services SA released SA’s first Autism Strategy 2024-2029, a world first in autism inclusion. 🤝 In this article, our Marketing Coordinator Charlotte Whincup, who is proudly neurodivergent, unpacks the significance of the Strategy, what it means for corporate governance moving forward, and how easyread.tech will work to support its implementation. Read here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gr3N89yw #SAAutismStrategy

It's #WorldAutismAwareness Day- While everyday my world is a lot brighter because of my son, I hope today everyone can commit to one thing you can do or think about differently to create true acceptance and pathways to inclusion, for those on the Autism Spectrum and for their caregivers. For me, as a Mom and a Coach, my work is far from complete- but I commit to continuous learning, relentless advocacy, sharing my experience, and paying it forward to coach and support other Moms who are navigating this journey. #Autismawareness #Momalongthespectrum #Acceptance #Inclusion #Diversity https://lnkd.in/eBruKjf2

Embracing Neurodiversity: Celebrating Autistic Pride Day. . . Click here to Read our Full Blog 👉 https://lnkd.in/gmtwhvQb . . #childhelpfoundation #chfblog #AutisticPrideDay #blogoftheday

New Episode of TIIBA Talk 🎙️ This week, we discuss the importance of teaching social skills to students with autism with our special guest, Lauren Noth. 🌟 Social skills go far beyond just making friends or having conversations! 💬 They include essential abilities to navigate different environments, adapt to new situations, and interact effectively with others. 👥 Why are they important? Teaching these skills: ✔️ Enhances quality of life. ✔️ Promotes independence. ✔️ Builds meaningful relationships. This episode is a valuable resource for caregivers, parents, and educators who want to help children achieve a fuller, more independent life. 🔗 Visit our website to listen to the full interview and learn more about this important topic! #TIIBATalk #autism #socialskills #inclusion #learning

“Learning to Embrace Differences”   A couple of months ago, I noticed that my son, Ansh, was having trouble understanding why his friend in our community, Jeev, acted differently. Jeev was diagnosed with autism and sometimes behaved in ways that seemed unusual to other children. Wanting to teach Ansh about acceptance and diversity, I decided to have a conversation with him. I explained that just like everyone has different interests and talents, some people's brains work in unique ways, and that's absolutely okay.   I told him that Jeev’s autism was a part of who he was, just like Ansh’s love for Autobot. To help Ansh understand better, we watched some videos that showed the world from Jeev’s perspective. I also encouraged Ansh to ask questions and express his feelings. Through these conversations, Ansh began to see Jeev not as someone different, but as a friend with his own strengths and challenges. He said that he had learned that everyone deserves to be accepted for who they are, and that being friends with Jeev was a way to show that he understood and embraced that idea. Seeing Ansh’s newfound understanding and empathy filled me with pride.   It was a reminder that teaching acceptance starts with understanding and compassion, and that even young children can learn to appreciate the beauty of neurodiversity. #Acceptance #Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Fidelityassociate

 Autism Confession #3: I still don’t know if I fit in…. even in the Autistic Community. The constant scolding of words I am allowed/not to use and images I am allowed/not to acknowledge and how everyone wants to identify and how they do not. Am I supposed to say that I am Autistic or do I have Autism- honestly, it depends on the dang day.     I have to say, I DO feel like a puzzle piece. Perfectly shaped and absolutely meant for the whole but I just don’t quite know how to get in where I fit in. But I keep hearing how wrong that is so…. I must be wrong even here. I keep hearing WE get to choose things about our Autism but no one else gets a say but we can’t do it the wrong way…. And it feels very divisive. It seems sometimes that people who are trying get scolded and that feels a lot like me trying to fit in and being told how wrong I was… and it seems like an unnecessary tit for tat. Maybe the solution is we all offer each other a little more grace? (These are just small blurbs that I may expand later…. Or may not. Remember these are MY thoughts and 'if you have met one Autistic person, you have met ONE Autistic person'....)   #Autism #Autistic #AutismSupport #AutisticAdults #AutismAcceptance #DisabilityAwareness #Inclusion #Spectrum #Neurodivergent

At Empower Autism we believe that social change starts when we question; question things like socially created norms, our own unconscious bias, and our idea of accessibility. We love connecting with people who share those views and who share our commitment to social change. Over the next few weeks, we’d like to share with you a conversation Diana McMurtry, our Community Engagement Manager, had with an amazing autistic person who shares those views. Scott Frasard Âû, PhD is an adult educator of 30 years, a psychometrician and a leading autism advocate. In 2023, Scott was honoured by Neurodiversity World as one of the top 50 Neurodiversity Evangelists globally. Scott is also an author, having recently released his first book A Reflective Question to Ponder: 1,200+ Questions on Autism to Foster Dialogue. Scott's book is designed to foster meaningful dialogue through thought-provoking questions, aiming to bridge gaps between autistic and non-autistic individuals. In today’s conversation Scott and Diana discuss why there is a stigma around talking about autism. Link to Scott’s book in Amazon: https://lnkd.in/gzP8x2T4 #EmpowerAutism #AutismAwareness #ScottFrasard #Inclusion #Diversity #SupportAutism #AReflectiveQuestionToPonder