Positive messaging around autism in schools was at the heart of the West Sussex Autism and Wonderfully Wired Ambassadors Conference which took place earlier this week.
More than 15 ambassador groups from across West Sussex, made up of neurodivergent pupils and some of their neurotypical peers, attended the conference which was organised by West Sussex County Council.
The unique conference was made possible through the Autism In Schools project, which is funded by the NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board. One of the project’s key objectives is to communicate positive messages about autism in schools and to ensure that the autistic perspective is heard, understood and acted upon in schools throughout the county.
WATCH: Highlights video from the Autistic and Wonderfully Wired conference 2024
Councillor Jacquie Russell, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Learning and Skills, said: “The Autism Ambassadors, many of whom have lived experience of autism themselves, do a fantastic job during these events to help enable autistic people to have a voice.
“The success of the Autism and Wonderfully Wired Ambassadors conference enables an understanding of autism to spread amongst work and community colleagues, family and friends.
“It is always inspiring to hear from such interesting speakers, which is an important part of Our Council Plan’s aim to help all of our residents and communities to fulfil their potential. I hope the young people who attended the conference share that inspiration and take it with them into the future.”
NHS Sussex clinical lead for neurodivergence and mental health, Dr Bikram Raychaudhuri, said: “Identifying the unique strengths and talents that autistic children and young people have to offer, while providing the right support and environments they need in order to be able to thrive, can have a life-changing impact not only on them, but also their families and our wider community too.
“The conference and the wider Autism in Schools programme – which we are now rolling out across the whole of Sussex following a successful pilot in the west - has been about recognising and accommodating neurodivergence within school environments and prioritising inclusion support.”
A total of 260 people attended the event, which was held at the Falmer Stadium, the home of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, with the ambassadors’ ages ranging from eight to 25 and the majority being between 10 and 14. The event involved a range of activities including a graffiti workshop, which gave people the opportunity to create their own mural focusing on the positives of being autistic. There was also a number of speakers on the day including autistic comedian Joe Wells, Paralympic gold medallist Jessica-Jane Applegate and also members from the West Sussex emergency services who each shared their own experiences of autism.
Speaking on the event, Prof. Nicola Yuill, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the School of Psychology, University of Sussex said: “Schools around Sussex are doing excellent work in creating more autism-friendly environments so that neurodivergent students can thrive in their education. At The Autism Community Research Network Sussex (ACoRNS), based in the School of Psychology, we've been very happy to work alongside them, bringing together academic research, pupil lived experience and educator expertise.
“This conference is a really ambitious and novel way to bring autistic students together into a space adapted for their needs and to showcase ‘neuroaffirmative’ approaches, with sessions from autistic people achieving in various fields, and a talk by Professor Julia Simner on the amazing autistic brain.”
For more information on support for parent carers of children and young people aged up to 25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities visit the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum website here.
West Sussex County Council also wants to hear from autistic people, their families and carers and professionals working with autistic people to help us make the county a better place for those with lived experience of autism.
A consultation made up of in-person workshops and online surveys is open until 16 December. The findings will help inform a new autism strategy that aims to improve services and support for autistic people of all ages in West Sussex.
Please see our webpage for more information about the consultation and how to take part.
