An absolutely free workshop for adults living with Autism is happening soon; teaching much-needed skills for people living on the spectrum.
South Africa (10 May, 2023)—Living with Autism can be very complicated. Yes, the world is becoming more aware of what living on the spectrum means. No, it hasn’t adapted to make enough realms of life smoother.
Navigating the world of social interaction when you’re on the spectrum comes with a lot of learning. Sometimes it means learning how to avoid social challenges, how to pick up on social cues that Neurotypicals ‘just get’, or coping with the anxiety and pressure of both.
Other times, it means dealing with the social exhaustion. Stimulation and sensory overloads, and other mental health battles.
Clinical Psychologist Chael Nel of the Spectrum Centre shares:
“Individuals with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) often experience challenges in forming and maintaining relationships due to their neurological ‘wired differences’. This contributes to patterns of different emotional needs, difficulties in intuitively anticipating each other’s expectations and different abstractions of what others may feel, think and need, creating potential misunderstandings.”
There’s a daily pressure of having to “fit in” and to “act normal”, where tolerance isn’t nearly as high and understanding as it could be.
In order to make the world a little easier for adults living with Autism, the Spectrum Centre is offering a free 2-hour virtual workshop.
The Workshop Focuses On:
- What Autism is and isn’t
- The differences between Neurotypicals and Neurodivergents
- Making sense of emotions
- Managing expectations
- Communication
- When to disclose you’re on the Spectrum
- Dealing with Autism Burnout
- And dealing with the workplace
“Employment can be a challenge for individuals with ASD, dealing with office politics, collaborating with different personalities, navigating social dynamics with diplomacy and sensory overload, often [overshadowing] their incredible capacity to deliver high-quality work,” adds the Spectrum Centre.
The workshop will provide free skills to deal with the office landscape and teach adults living with Autism their rights in the workplace too.
The workshop takes place tomorrow, 11 May and you or someone you know who might benefit can sign up here!
Meanwhile, this year’s SPAR Women’s Challenge is rallying for Autistic communities later this month, with portions of the funds raised set to go to NPOs caring for and empowering Autistic youth.
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