The Autistic AuCademy

The Autistic AuCademy is a virtual training series developed by and for Autistic individuals to improve healthcare and quality of life for youth and adults on the autism spectrum. The Exchange is launching with a four-part virtual workshop series, where participants can share knowledge, access resources, and learn strategies for navigating healthcare and other systems. These workshops are designed to offer practical tools for Autistic individuals, to improve their quality of life, find a community, and a path to thrive.

This initiative is a training series supported by Autistic Bridge Inc. It is guided by a leadership team that includes Autistic advocates, family members, and professionals from various fields, including healthcare and education. The leadership team is working with Autistic individuals, family partners, clinicians, and researchers across the United States and Canada to develop workshop materials, create surveys, and analyze the results of this initial project.

These workshops will focus on helping Autistic individuals of all ages, from adolescence to adulthood, with a particular emphasis on navigating primary healthcare, accessing mental health services, and understanding healthcare systems. The content of future workshops will be informed by feedback from Autistic participants through surveys to ensure the topics reflect their most pressing needs and concerns.

The primary goal of the Autistic AuCademy is to amplify the voices of Autistic individuals and better understand the challenges they face in managing their healthcare and navigating adult life. By listening to these perspectives, the project aims to identify gaps in knowledge and resources and to empower participants to advocate for themselves effectively. The team hopes that insights gained through this initiative will guide future efforts to improve the overall quality of life for Autistic individuals.

To support this goal, the project will collect survey feedback from Autistic participants. This data will help inform and shape the design of future sessions. The workshops will also provide participants with access to valuable resources and connections to support teams, ensuring the information shared has a lasting impact and build a world where Autistics of all ages thrive.

Project Objectives

1. Collaboration and Development: To collaborate with Autistic individuals, family partners, clinicians, and researchers to develop and disseminate pre and post surveys, create training materials, and launch the Autistic Knowledge Exchange series.
2. Empowerment and Education: To empower Autistic individuals aged 18 and older by addressing their physical and mental health needs through a series focused on Primary Care, Mental Health Services, and Health Systems, with topics informed by participant feedback.
3. Understanding Healthcare Perspectives: To engage Autistic voices in identifying healthcare barriers and knowledge needs, aiming to influence future initiatives that improve the quality of life for Autistic individuals across their lifespan.

Intended Outcomes

For Participants:

• Enhanced self-advocacy and healthcare navigation skills.
• Improved understanding of sensory and healthcare needs.
• Stronger connections within the Autistic community.

For the Community:

• Insights into barriers faced by Autistic individuals to inform future initiatives.
• Resources and training for medical providers to better serve Autistic patients.

The Autistic AuCademy is a transformative effort to bridge gaps in care and support, fostering a more inclusive and empowered Autistic community.