Part 1 - Symposium on Good Mental Health - Autistic Girls and Women

We’ve heard how important it is to finding a tribe that makes you feel connected, understood and valued. We’ve heard how much that make can make a profound difference to your sense of
wellbeing. We’ve heard how critical it is to promote a strong sense of self-acceptance, to celebrate strengths and invest in interests. We’ve heard how key it is to know triggers and have de escalation strategies.
We’ve heard. We’ve listened. We’ve learned. And What better way to learn what the next generation of ladybugs may need, or what might work for them, than to hear directly from autistic women and non binary people who have taken these steps before. And whilst no experience is the same, and everyone is different, I hope you find comfort in knowing that we now have a place where we can collaborate, share and learn together. A place where we can focus on self acceptance, self-management and self belief.
Thanks to the Victorian Government and Yellow Ladybugs and all speakers.

[@zehisap8883]

It would be nice if the slides stayed up long enough to read. We don't really need to see the speaker

[@Dancestar1981]

It’s better to focus on what we did right rather than what we didn’t

[@rebanelson607]

Those were amazing lectures!! Learning that I'm autistic (about 4 years ago) has changed my life and most likely added years to my life. Now my goal is to help other adults with autism overcome a lifetime of suffering and LIVE! There's a saying that "time heals all wounds". But time does not help autistics unless they can develop SELF ACCEPTANCE. Thanks for all the work you are doing!

[@joycebrewer4150]

I was an expert at negative self-talk from a very young age. While a minor physical problem contributed to this, I was sure I was too damaged to be loved by anyone, even my own parents. I wasn't even sure I was fully human. Entering kindergarten with that attitude, didn't help make friends. I don't recall trying to imitate other children, not until maybe junior high. I just wanted to stay as far away from them as I could, in the interests of surviving recess. Before kindergarten, I had been encouraged to think of school as a chance to make new friends. Nobody thought to teach me how that was supposed to happen. I would not be diagnosed, or recognized, for many years as autistic. Result, within two weeks of starting school I knew what being bullied felt like. I never did find a peer in the largest class my school district had ever had, that was willing to speak out in my defense. There were a few that silently pitied me, for what I had to put up with. But as I said in those days, my best friends were the kids who ignored my existence completely (as far as anybody could tell.)

[@suzannecasamento8465]

Very thoughtful and interesting speakers. I thank you. This was very helpful for me to hear.

[@Dancestar1981]

Often many ASD women can diagnose others in the population who are undiagnosed ASD individuals just with experience it’s like we have a built in radar for it

[@rw8185]

Well thats common for most illnesses in both men and women and not only for Aspergers. That being said we need all different perspectives to address an issue. We need the perspective neurotypicals as well as neuroatypicals, women's perspective and men's perspective and on and on.

[@Nerdylady]

it "feels nice" to be understood. chuckled a lot. ty ladies

[@Dancestar1981]

Flirting are you kidding? I’ve just learnt to figure it out by watching tv recently in my late 30s

[@Dancestar1981]

Yes friendly with everyone yet others took it as being something entirely sexual

[@Dancestar1981]

I had guys old enough to be grandfather material stalking me at uni when I was 19 and it was as as creepy as especially when I wasn’t interested in anything like that at all it was never on my radar

[@SCORPIUSANCTUM]

exactly!! then the anxiety of having to tell them it wasn't flirting ...

[@vynedvyne59]

Bravo

[@princessadora]

why is there so much emphasis on level 1? i am level 3, newly diagnosed and feeling very isolated!.

[@Dancestar1981]

cherry pop level one still need lots of support many of us are unable to hold down employment due to lack of understanding

[@princessadora]

Dancestar1981 you clearly missed my point. Everything is for you. All of the support. I have not seen a single video focused on level 2 or level 3 autism. For you to say you need a lot of support when someone with level 3 is getting none... just continues to amplify what myself and some others are going through.

[@Dancestar1981]

Forget transitioning to teens the whole journey was awful. I was bullied all through primary and secondary school and in the workforce that’s over 20 plus years of rejection there was no pause except maybe in a period of four years at uni

[@Dancestar1981]

Only just exploring now who I may really be

[@Dancestar1981]

I still refer to myself as an Aspie

[@Dancestar1981]

I wasn’t diagnosed until 23

[@Dancestar1981]

Actually we don’t all stim I’m a female Aspie and I actually don’t stim

[@MariaNI-yf1bz]

I said the same..till last week ..than.i discovered that i did.

[@ameliabarnish9135]

Even nuerotypical people stim. Also its part of the diagnostic criteria to have repetitive movements