THE SESSION WILL BE RECORDED AND CAN BE ACCESSED FOR 30 DAYS

Teachers, Parents and Allied Health NEED this knowledge.

The Australian Senate Inquiry about Autism showed the following.

  • Autistic people have a life expectancy 20–36 years shorter than the general population, with over two times the mortality rate;
  • 30–40 per cent of autistic children have an intellectual disability or developmental delays.
  • 60–70 per cent of autistic people have ADHD;
  • 40–60 per cent of autistic children have anxiety.
  • 75 per cent of autistic people do not complete education beyond year 12
  • The unemployment rate for autistic people is almost eight times the rate of people without disability.
  • 50–70 per cent of autistic people experience co-existing mental health conditions.

These significant results show that we have to do better. We have to build our knowledge, know more about supports and achieve better life outcomes for Autistic people.

Anxiety is a major factor.

Luke will explore anxiety within childhood, and identify why so many autistic children have such high levels of anxiety. He will articulate the very real dangers of anxiety as well as discussing what might be done about it. Education plays a huge part in the lives of autistic children. Luke will discuss aspects such as why some children end up too anxious to access school; he will conclude with a précis of his concept of Autopia – a fictional future for autistic children where they can exist anxiety free.

Dr Luke Beardon is a staff member in The Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. He has been working as a practitioner providing support and consultancy in autism and Asperger syndrome for around 20 years. Luke’s research interests are around individuals with autism who have broken the law.

The Session is 2 hours long and will contain time for questions. Bring all your questions.

The session will be recorded. Participants will have access for 30 days.