Supporting community participation of Autistic individuals with CSN

Join Shadia Hancock and Tim Chan for a presentation and Q&A on supporting Autistic individuals with complex communication and support needs (CSN) during community events and social participation. 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:

• The complex communication and support needs community
• AAC, multimodal communication and the communication spectrum 
• Unique social challenges Autistic CSN individuals experience
• How to include people with CSN socially

This session will be applicable for Autistic individuals, support staff, families, event hosts, allied health staff, and anyone who wishes to learn more about supporting Autistic individuals with CSN.

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 and completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at university. Tim is now working on a PhD. He 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 disabilities. 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 (Honours) and Cert IV in Animal Behaviour and Training with the long-term goal of specialising in AAC and providing 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 are training their dog Arwen to be their psychiatric and Autism assistance dog.​ 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.