Table of Contents
Major Presentations
- Making Conversation - a Structured Approach to Other-focused Communication (Michael Ellerman)
- Best Practices of the Empowerment Committee of The Finnish Association for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome (Havina Harvinainen)
- Autism and Loneliness (Baukje van Kesteren)
- Sharing Our Worlds: AC/AC relationships (Kalen)
- Accessing Formal Supports (Kalen & Yo)
Practical Workshops
- Recycling Art Workshop (Suzi Superglue)
Structured Leisure Sessions
- Shintaido in Daily Life (Charles Burns)
Major Presentations
Making Conversation - a Structured Approach to Other-focused Communication
Presenter:
Michael Ellermann
Download handout:
making-conversation.pdf
(Adobe PDF format, 802KB)
Description:
This presentation will suggest some tools and structures for autistic people
dealing with conversations, where you put your conversation partner in focus
and offer the opportunity for the other person to share their world. The
idea is that transparency, structure and visual aids can improve
communication skills and facilitate mutual understanding. The presentation
will use Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides and also concrete tools from
something called the "cat-kit", which is a binder with various
visual communication tools and inspiration from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
(CBT). It will also discuss the relevance for autistic people as well as for
other people communicating with autistic people.
Best Practices of the Empowerment Committee of The Finnish Association for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome
Presenter:
Havina Harvinainen
Download handouts:
best-practices-article.doc
(MS Word format, 23KB),
best-practices-exercises.doc
(MS Word format, 30KB)
Description:
The goal of the Empowerment Committee is to promote the rights and respect
for persons on the autistic spectrum by creating networks of mutual
information and assistance between ASD groups and individuals. It also
develops practices which enable and enhance the collaboration of adults on
the autistic spectrum, the parents of autistic children and autism
professionals. This was found to be necessary because up to this point
Finnish autism organizations have been dominated by caretakers of autistic
children without the consideration or perspective of authentic experiences
of autistic persons themselves. This presentation will introduce: Our
accomplishments, such as organising our own annual seminar, and receiving
funding; our current challenges; and our access-oriented meeting and seminar
practices. The presentation will include discussions and brainstorming on
how to apply and develop these practices to suit your own needs, in your own
community. Come and bring your valuable perspective to the mix! You may
participate in the exercises either by speech, or by text. You may
participate in a small group, or solo, according to your preferences. Your
thoughts will benefit future empowerment activities.
Autism and Loneliness
Presenter:
Baukje van Kesteren
Download handout:
autism-and-loneliness.doc
(MS Word format, 27KB)
Description:
At 52, after many years of psychiatric problems which were never resolved, I
received the ASD (Asperger Syndrome) diagnosis. Finally knowing what was the
matter with me, and intrigued by the 'Autism' phenomenon, I decided to write
a book on autism and loneliness. This book was published in August 2005
under the title A Hole where your Heart is. Loneliness in People with
Autism. (In Dutch: 'Een gat waar je hart zit. Eenzaamheid bij mensen met
autisme'.) In the book, some twenty people with ASD tell about their
experiences with loneliness, answering questions like: Do you feel lonely,
and if so, when and under what circumstances? What do you see as the cause
of your feelings of loneliness? Where and how do you find help, relief or
comfort? What are your expectations for the future? I also interviewed
several professional service providers such as a
psychologist/orthopedagogue and a speech therapist/psycholinguist, and I
visited several institutions, e.g. a place where autistic people live and
work, and where they can stay for the rest of their lives if necessary and
desirable. The primary theme of the lecture consists of the experiences
with loneliness of the autistic people mentioned above.
Sharing Our Worlds: AC/AC relationships
Presenter:
Kalen
Description:
This presentation will discuss autistic/autistic close relationships - both
romantic and platonic - and the benefits and pitfalls of these. Many
autistic people who have not had successful relationships with NTs believe
that if only they had an autistic partner, their relationship would be
problem free. Experience tells me otherwise, but even from the failures,
much can be learned. I also have experience of relationships with other
autistics working out beautifully, in part because of our shared neuro-type.
The presentation will include topics such as choosing appropriate
relationship partners, sharing space, communication, skill and sensitivity
(incompatibilities and other issues to do with getting along with another
person - in particular another autistic person. This will have relevance not
only to those in or seeking romantic relationships, but to friendships with
autistic people as well. It may also have relevance for NTs in relationships
with autistic people. While a fair bit has been written and discussed about
NT women married to AS men, relationships in which both parties are autistic
is quite neglected. We have little to guide us other than our own and
others' experience.
Accessing Formal Supports
Presenters:
Yo &
Kalen
Download handouts:
accessing-formal-supports-questionnaire.doc
(MS Word format, 48KB),
accessing-formal-supports-resources.doc
(MS Word format, 56KB)
Description:
This presentation explores ways of expressing your needs in a way that
increases your chances of getting useful support from various bureaucratic
systems without losing your autonomy. Autistic people often fall through the
gaps between mental health and learning disabilities services. High
functioning autistic in particular can find it nearly impossible to get
their needs recognised at all. The presentation will discuss access to
formal support system such as financial benefits, home support, educational
support, employment support and health care. We will explore the reasons one
may want to try to access formal support, what kinds of services may be
available, deciding which services are appropriate, how various systems work
and expressing your needs to suit the orientation of the system in question.
The presentation will include exercises to help participants apply the
concepts to their own lives and needs. While there will be a UK orientation
to the specific services discussed, many of the concepts will be applicable
to other countries.
Practical Workshops
Recycling Art Workshop
Presenter:
Suzi Superglue
Description:
I will offer an art workshop based on the idea of recycling. Art, with
emphasis on jewellery, is my medium to create an ongoing process between
creator, user and spectator—art as a way of telling the unique stories
of our lives. During the workshop, I will offer basic techniques of drawing,
collage-making and an introduction to jewellery-making for beginners. The
workshop will be an open space, where participants can express themselves
freely experimenting, inventing or just being there and observing.
Participants are invited to bring along their favourite items such as books,
music, etc., for inspiration. Parallel to the workshop, there will be an
exhibition of my jewellery. At the end of the workshop, participants are
welcome to add their own art pieces from the workshop to the exhibition.
Structured Leisure Sessions
Shintaido in Daily Life
Presenter:
Charles Burns
Description:
In its essence, Shintaido is a modern art form created from a fusion of
eastern martial arts, and western art & philosophy. Truly "avant garde",
it is a martial art freed from the narrow constraints of its self-defence
origins, and let loose to explore the true human potential within each of
us.