Employment Blog
An Introduction to Self-Advocacy & Self-determination Skills. What Are They and Why Are They So Important?
by Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip. HSc. Neurodivergent people often experience challenges in exercising skills associated with self-determination and self-advocacy. Being pinnacle life skills that drive their success in education, employment, independence and within society, with the right supports, tools and strategies, they can develop high levels of self-determination, providing a firm sense of self-confidence. When
Video: AUStism at Home – Transitioning to Adulthood
(51.02 mins) Hosted, by Autism Awareness Australia, watch ‘AUStism at Home…. an insightful discussion about “Transitioning into adulthood on the autism spectrum.”‘, recorded on 2 April 2020. The webinar panel included: Chris Bonnello, Autistic Not Weird Barb Cook, Neurodivergent Advocate, Writer, Speaker & Biker Charmaine Fraser, Autism mum and Director of Aurora Coordination Nicole Rogerson, Autism
Reducing Workplace Stress: Working Together on Self-Care by Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip.HSc.
How often do we hear ourselves saying “I just need to finish this job and then I can take a break”, or “If I can get this project finished, I can then take a couple of days off”? When we tell ourselves this over and over again, without taking action to ‘look after ourselves’, the
Autism, Neurodiversity and Employment: Working Together for Positive Futures by Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip. HSc.
Autistic people are confronted with an array of barriers in many situations throughout their life. These situations centralise around what general society expects of all people, a one size fits all model, without the distinct consideration of disability, difference and inclusion. With the added individual challenges of effective communication skills, lack of self-advocacy and self-determination
Workplace Social Skills: Challenging the Narrative for Autistic People by Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip.HSc.
Workplace social skills. These words strike fear into the soul of any autistic person. I know this, because I am one of those people. I’ve had a tumultuous employment past, prior to my official diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (autism), ADHD and dyslexia in 2009. I never truly understood the “workplace social skills”, even though I
It’s Never too Early to Start: Planning Employment Futures with Autistic and Neurodivergent People by Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip.HSc.
Opinion piece. The employment world can be a difficult one to navigate for most people, let alone for autistic and neurodivergent people. The employment journey starts way before getting a job. Society is led to believe that from a young age we need to get a good education, strive for a well-paid job, earn money
