Fair go for Pharaohs

 


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Why I support the Inklings pre-emptive intervention program

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By Helen Said, Autistic advocate   Seven hundred families in Western Australia are going to take part in a trial of the Inklings pre-emptive intervention program. The babies concerned are between 6 and 18 months old and have a high likelihood of being Autistic. The 10-session Inklings Program uses short videos of a caregiver interacting with their baby to help them to better understand the different ways that their baby communicates their thoughts, feelings and needs. With the guidance of a trained practitioner, caregivers will learn strategies to build on their own strengths as a responsive communication partner for their baby.   I support the Inklings pre-emptive Intervention program for Autistic babies. I am an Autistic advocate and co-founder of Neurodivergent Labor (formerly Spectrum Labor). I have campaigned to end disability discrimination in the migration process and to count Autistics in the National Census. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree, I am an alumni of Refram
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by Helen Said, Autistic advocate When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I began teaching myself to make eye contact while speaking to people. Before that, when someone spoke to me, especially if it was someone outside the family, I used to turn away and not look at them. Today, avoiding eye contact would be recognised as a likely sign of Autism, but nothing was known about neurodivergence in the 1960s, when I was in primary school.  Nobody forced me to start looking people in the eye. In fact I don't recall anyone having commented about the fact that I didn't make eye contact. Contrary to what some Autistic friends say,  I wasn't "masking" or on the defensive about my different manner.  I just knew I was very shy and I didn't like feeling that way. I noticed that other people seemed to find conversation and making friends easier than I did and I wanted to be able to talk to people more easily. I noticed that other people made eye contact when they spoke to each ot
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Autistic politicians - coming to a parliament near you, soon

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