Supporting Autistic Individuals in Hospital Settings

Join Shadia Hancock and Tim Chan for a presentation and Q&A on supporting Autistic individuals in accessing hospital settings. Please note that questions for the Q&A portion of the session will need to be submitted in writing prior to the event. 

The session will cover topics relating to:

• Helpful information for Autistic individuals prior to admission
• How Autistic individuals and family members can prepare for hospital visits or stays
• The role family members, carers, staff, and support workers play in supporting Autistic individuals in hospitals
• Challenges Autistic patients may face during hospital stays
• Environmental and communication supports during hospitalisation

This session will be applicable for healthcare workers, carers and family members of Autistic individuals, Autistic individuals, and anyone who wishes to learn more about supporting Autistic individuals in accessing hospital settings.

If you are on an NDIS plan, need to pay at a later date, or require a Certificate of Attendance, please email us at admin@autismactually.com.au.

The presentation will be recorded and made available to participants who cannot make it live for 3 months.

About Tim Chan: https://www.timhchan.com/ 

Tim is an adult autistic non-speaker, diagnosed at three. He has complex communication and high support needs with his many autistic challenges including hypersensitivities, high anxiety, processing and movement coordination issues translating to not being able to develop speech since losing it at 14 months. At nine, Tim picked up an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) method via partner-assisted typing (PAT). With assiduous practice in PAT for engagement with the world, and the motivation to work in advocacy for people without speech, he has graduated from mainstream high school to study a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at university. Tim is passionate in advocating for people with little or no speech and feels privileged to engage in a number of advocacy organisations to work towards access, participation and inclusion for people with disability. This journey has been long and arduous, but also highly rewarding with meeting many allies and friends along the way. The journey continues…

About Shadia Hancock:

​Shadia is the proud owner, and founder of Autism Actually, and enjoys presenting and consultancy. ​They are currently studying Bachelor of Speech Pathology with the long-term goal of specialising in AAC and providing client-centred animal assisted therapy for Neurodivergent individuals. ​Shadia was diagnosed with Autism at the age of three, and Generalised Anxiety Disorder at the age of 14. Being non-binary, they enjoy discussing the intersectionality of Autism and gender diversity. They receive daily emotional and sensory support from their psychiatric assistance dog, Freya.​ Shadia benefited from numerous early supports such as speech therapy and occupational therapy to help with sensory and motor difficulties. They are very passionate about sharing information about what being Autistic is like, challenging stereotypes, and amplifying Autistic voices within the community.