We’re excited to be able to be at The Autism Show, the national event for autism, in London this year! We’ll be handing out our flow charts and other leaflets, talking to anyone who comes by and, most importantly, we’ll be giving workshops about SEND and about working with parents. They will be interactive affairs so if you’re coming, make sure you sign up as we’ll want to hear your ideas too – they may even make it on to the website!
As well as me and Renata, we’ll also have SNJ volunteer team members, Angela Kelly, Marguerite Haye, Catriona Moore and Siena Castellon as well as my eldest, Luca and his girlfriend Emma on hand to staff the stand.
Tickets on sale now
Tickets for this year's Autism Show are now on sale here. There will be events in Birmingham and Manchester in June as well. Sadly, my health means I’m not able to manage all three, but there’s so much else going on anyway! Plus, visitors booking their tickets early, can make a 20 percent saving on the door price.
There will be over 100 hours of talks, clinics and workshops, plus hundreds of specialist products and services. Once inside the event, all theatre sessions, one to one clinics and feature areas are free to enter and all content is CPD certified for professionals.
Uniquely organised by parents of an autistic child, in partnership with the National Autistic Society and a team of autistic adults, The Autism Show offers immediate and practical help to over 10,000 parents, carers, professionals and people with autism every year.
Who’s speaking?
This year’s full new programme has now been announced, and here are some of the speakers who are confirmed to speak in the Autism Matters Theatre.
On the Friday, which has an education focus, Sharonne Horlock, Strategic Leader at SEND, will be speaking on effective support for autistic children in mainstream schools; Dr Dido Green, Specialist Research Occupational Therapist at Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will be discussing how to support pupils with sensory difficulties; and Professor Francesca Happé, Director of the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at King's College London will be exploring how women and girls on the autism spectrum are mis-diagnosed and misunderstood.
Meanwhile on the Saturday, with a focus on the home environment, speakers include Georgia Harper (whose post about social skills appeared on SNJ last week) and Sam Ahern, Presenters of Channel 4's Are You Autistic?, who will be examining mental health strategies, including the positive effects of stimming and embracing special interests; Gareth Hardman, Challenging Behaviour Lead at National Autistic Society will be speaking on how to deal with challenging behaviour at home and providing a selection of tips and strategies; and the author and autistic adult with a quickly growing following, Michael Barton, supplying personal insights into navigating education and employment.
Autistic people at the heart
Part of what makes The Autism Show so special, is how it puts autistic people at the heart of the show. Symbolically positioned in the centre of the show, lies the Hub Theatre 1, where you can hear autistic speakers share their thoughts and experiences on a wide range of topics including sex and relationships; strategies for regulating anxiety; learning social skills and developing self-awareness; the benefits and dangers of being online; and living with Asperger's.
What's more, many of the speakers from the Hub Theatre 1 will be available to speak to in the Autism Meets area, in association with PARC, after their talks.
Next door in the Hub Theatre 2, you can discover a huge choice of strategies and approaches from specialist professionals. Subjects covered include managing transitions within and out of education; how to find the right school; overcoming the barriers to employment; residential care – yes or no; using apps to create social stories, visual timetables and independent living sequences; navigating the SEN maze; estate planning; and the transition into adult services.
Wireless headphones are provided to visitors in all theatres and relevant features, to reduce sound levels in the venue, helping those with sensory processing difficulties.
Visitors wanting personalised advice, can book onsite, a free 30 minute session with a specialist advisor in a One-to-One Clinic. Subjects covered include managing challenging behaviour, independent advice on special educational needs, speech and language and occupational therapy.
As well as our special London feature, the ever-popular Sensory Room, created by Mike Ayres Design and OM Interactive, offers an immersive sensory experience while showcasing the latest in sensory design and technology. Mike has also designed a Quiet Room for visitors who might need to find a calm space during their visit (You may find me in there!).
Elsewhere, the Connections Workshops aim to enable teachers to increase their awareness of the sensory experience of a child with autism, while providing exciting new strategies that really make a difference for both the teacher and the pupil.
A different type of sensory experience can be found in the Jumping Clay Workshops, where young people and adults on the spectrum, can take part in guided craft sessions.
Amongst all this, content visitors can explore the exhibition and speak to the UK’s leading suppliers of learning tools, visual aids, sensory equipment, furniture, advice and support services, residential care, specialist schools and much more.
Book your tickets now and save 20 percent at: www.autismshow.co.uk
ExCeL London: 14 to 15 June 2019
NEC Birmingham: 21 to 22 June 2019
EventCity Manchester: 28 to 29 June 2019
*SNJ will be at The Autism Show courtesy of the organisers as part of an exchange agreement. See our disclosure policy
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Tania is an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. She also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media.
Tania is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
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