Empower Autism

04/06/2026

Our Autistic community is growing🎉🎉



We’re excited to announce that we are launching a new Youth Peer Groups location for Autistic young people in the Redlands!



The group will be located in Victoria Point in the Redlands, and will run Wednesday nights from 6pm-7:30pm – commencing July 15th for the beginning of term 3. Like our other Youth Peer Groups, the group will be open to anyone between the ages of 14-18, who identifies as Autistic, and will be accompanied by a co-occurring Parents Group for parents and carers of attendees.



Our peer groups are safe, inclusive spaces for Autistic people to form friendships, unmask and express themselves freely. If you’re looking to connect with people who understand your experience, we’d love to have you along!



For more details, please get in touch with our friendly team or visit our website, and register your interest for the Redlands Youth Peer Group through the form below: https://forms.office.com/r/EFwY62JH8E?origin=lprLink

01/06/2026

This clip is a call out for all of our friends who see this.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU!!!

If you’re going through a hard period, it can be scary to reach out to others, and easier to just keep pushing in silence. If this feels familiar, this message is for you.

The people in your life are there to support you! We love you and care about you and want you to be happy! It may be scary, but it’s a lot less scary than pushing through alone 💕💕

Catch Maddy and I’s full conversation about wellbeing, masking and supporting one another in our latest episode of Skipping the Small Talk, on Youtube and Spotify now.

27/05/2026

How has diagnosis impacted your neurodivergent journey?



A lot of us have a tendency to beat ourselves up over challenges we face navigating a world not designed for us. Things that often aren’t our fault!

And while diagnosis is not the only way to challenge this, it gave Maddy a new perspective on her experience, which allowed her to approach her ADHD with self-compassion and reflection.



Catch our full conversation in our next episode of Skipping the Small Talk, airing this Friday, May 29th, on YouTube or Spotify.

13/05/2026

We asked Jaeda and Paul about the values of self-advocacy, in relation to their experiences as neurodivergent university students.

We discussed self-advocacy in our recent Advocate-ED workshops, designed to support neurodivergent students to navigate busy university life. Self-advocacy is a tricky skill to build, but one that is well worth the practice!

Thank you Paul and Jaeda for sharing your thoughts with us ☺️
If you’d like to learn more about our Advocate-ED program, email us at [email protected]. 🧡💙

11/05/2026

Not feeling supported or accepted in the workplace is one of the biggest challenges reported by our Autistic community.

In our latest episode of Skipping the Small Talk, we spoke with Michael Coles bout his experience navigating employment as an Autistic person over the last 30 years.

Michael shares insights into how he built a workflow that works for him, and how we can move forward with creating more neuroinclusive workplaces, free from the constant pressures of masking and burnout!

To watch the full episode, find us on YouTube and Spotify, here:
📺 YouTube: https://youtu.be/yoFTlXen-JQ
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rGfhaRm9KtHb4shsqHWGU?si=PqAKt2JkSvODAY3tdOq7Xw

30/04/2026

I love being organised but I’m not always the best at it...



For me, the solution to this “chaos” is to work with my brain rather than against it.

Things like body doubling, chore checklists, or delegating household tasks based on sensory needs can be really helpful!



If you relate to this, check out the Motivation Around the Home module in our Life Skills program in our bio- it was the source of inspiration for this conversation!

28/04/2026

We’ve got some amazing modules coming up soon!

Our Life Skills program covers the areas of everyday life which school never taught us about. From organisation around the home, to adulting in the community, to your rights at work, each module is delivered in a relaxed, Autism-affirming environment with facilitators who meet you on your level.

We run our Life Skills modules from our Stafford office, and online, so you can join us in person or online. Sessions run on the first and third Tuesday of each month, from 5:30pm-7:00pm.

💡To find out more about the program or join us for any of our modules, register your interest through the link here: https://forms.office.com/r/A0mRi8gVbE

27/04/2026

We’ve just launched the Empower Autism Blog on our website!

This blog aims to challenge myths and deficit-based narratives surrounding Autistic people, and replace them with understanding, respect and dignity.

Each article will remain grounded in both research and lived experience, and discuss a variety of topics, across education, workplaces and communities, while centering the voices, agency and dignity of Autistic people.

Whether you are an Autistic person yourself, have Autistic loved ones in your life, or are simply a curious community member, we highly recommend tuning in to discover some eye-opening insights into the Autistic experience.

Because inclusion is not a statement of intent. It is something we choose, build and sustain together 🧡💙

Check out our first article, on Neurodiversity, Dignity and Empowerment on our website here:

News and updates from Empower Autism. Get the latest news, be inspired and read content that emotionally connects with you about all things autism. There is no question that social media has changed the way people interact and for autistic people it has opened up the world in a way face-to-face soci...

22/04/2026

If you’re an Autistic ally, we see you!



Being an ally isn’t just a title, but a learning journey and a skill to build over time. Genuine, compassionate allyship is something we want to acknowledge and support this Autism Understanding Month.



Although conversations about Autism are best led by Autistic people themselves, allies can still make a difference by listening to and uplifting Autistic voices!



For Tamara, this is the most important part of being an ally. In this video, she shares what she’s learnt about being an Autistic ally, by listening to the different Autistic people in her life.



We’d love to hear your thoughts on allyship in the comments too 😊
How do you show up as an ally for your community?