Who are the sessions aimed at?

Funded by Hampshire County Council, these sessions are for autistic adult residents within Hampshire County Council boundaries who wish to gain more insight into what makes them different and why.

What are the aims of the workshops?

The aim of these workshops is to support participants towards understanding and accepting who they really are rather than teaching them to ‘mask’ or ‘pass for normal’.

How will the sessions be structured?

There are two hours allocated for each session, but each person can decide how long they wish to stay.

There will be a 15-minute break in the middle of the session. Should anyone one need to take a break at any other time they are, of course, free to do so.

For the comfort of all, each group will have up to 10 participants.

Where will the sessions take place?

The sessions will take place at the following location:

The Cedar Room

The Orchard

White Hart Lane

Basingstoke

RG21 4AF

When and how often how often will sessions take place?

The course is made up of six sessions which will take place between October - December and the dates of each session are below:

• Wednesday 23rd October 2024 - 1pm to 3pm
• Wednesday 30th October 2024 - 1pm to 3pm
• Wednesday 20th November 2024 - 1pm to 3pm
• Wednesday 27th November 2024 - 1pm to 3pm
• Wednesday 4th December 2024 - 1pm to 3pm
• Wednesday 18th December 2024 - 1pm to 3pm

Workshop 1 - Introduction

This session will set the context for the other workshops and explore:

Competing definitions of what it is to be autistic.

The diversity of the autistic population.

Workshop 2 - Thinking

This session will explore:

Differences in the way we think and process the world.

Accommodating such differences

Workshop 3 - Communication

This session will explore:

How autistic children might acquire language and move on to develop distinctive styles of communication.

Ways of enabling better communication between us and non autistic people.

Workshop 4 - Social Interaction

This session will explore:

Distinctly autistic ways of being social.

Strategies for avoiding social burnout.

Workshop 5 - Sensory Perception

This session will explore:

How reactions to everyday stimuli may give clues as to our unique sensory profiles.

Ways to stimulate or calm our senses.

Workshop 6 - Reasonable Adjustments

This session will explore:

Legislation and guidance concerning equality and discrimination.

How such legislation and guidance applies to us.

What should I expect?

Each session will include opportunities for participants to ask questions, share experiences and offer advice.