World Autism Awareness Day was on the 2nd of April 2020. Was it?

How many meaningful events have come up in this unprecedented calendar and been modified, moved or missed completely?

While scouring the seemingly infinite web for inspiration to honour this day, in this most unusual global time, there also seemed to surface a remarkable number of parallel messages between World Autism Awareness and Global Pandemic Response. The obvious call from Autism Speaks to ‘help create a kinder world’ during the whole month of April, was just the first. In fact it was hard to find any current international issue that could not be better combated with the UN’s ‘shared responsibility, global solidarity’.

Closer to home, AUStism brings yet another clear powerful contribution: ‘Stories to challenge, inform and inspire’. The amazing AUStism Australia events have been rescheduled from April to October this year. Pondering these key themes along with the UN focus on ‘transition’ (for young adults with autism) while on yet another daily neighbourhood ‘rec’ walk - gazing at new rainbow window galleries, spotting teddies in trees and admiring pastel chalk work on local driveways – the lens sharpened.

Who knows the perils of: Unprecedented! Unknown! Fear! Overwhelming! Quite like that of an individual with autism? What better way to source informative insights, advice and support for us ALL right now, than directly from those who have ALWAYS seen this ‘big world, small world’ divergently.

When you start looking, there is phenomenal ‘from the source’ neurodiverse content. It is penetrating, visionary and in many cases delightfully dissimilar. Here is a very small collection of considerations, compiled with the hope of highlighting the wisdom of experience, dispersing myths and offering solace in this time of transformation.

big world, SMALL WORLD.

Create your own superhero

Tim Sharp is a hilarious and vibrant Australian artist, and speaker this year at the AUStism events. Tim loves superheroes, and needed one of his own – don’t we all! Tim’s art and superhero character - Laser Beak Man - has inspired: musicians; actresses; puppeteers; authors; animators and his Mum. Tim’s work has become: a TV series; an international theatrical production; album cover and songs; book; exhibitions; t-shirts and must send birthday cards. Tim and his uplifting work are truly a ‘double shot of happiness’ to take a dose of today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78VbeiAbcYI

Image sourced from: https://www.laserbeakman.com/

Don’t fear the meltdown

Prue Stevenson’s exhibition at MCA gives everyone permission to open up to their sensory world, widen their sensory experience instead of shutting it off, because of a fear of feeling publicly expressive and exposed. In so doing open up your world to all the remarkable others you share it with, and all the ways in which we communicate our complex emotions, needs and experience of living.

**Prue Stevenson:** Portable Quiet Room, MCA Gallery

Slow down, find peace

Quarantine Thoughts by Philip Reyes on his blog:

‘I am thinking about my time in quarantine. I think it has been good for me. I needed time away from normal life to get a chance to find peace.’

Philip is a young man navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood. Philip does not use speech to communicate, instead finding his voice in the words he writes so succinctly. Philip goes on to write:

‘I am freeing myself to slow down without feeling guilty. Quarantining will save many lives from Covid-19. It may also give some people a much needed break from a too-busy and stress-filled world.’

Survival tips

Frontline health worker Ron Sandison writes on The Art of Autism website:

‘Autism causes me to have a compromised immune system and digestive issues. These health issues intensify the fear I experience serving on the front line. I’ve come up with five survival tips to lessen my anxiety and fear: find someone to talk with; find someone to laugh with; play it safe; enjoy your time in social isolation; stay strong in faith and hope.’

Know we all have dirty laundry

When the world is in its current state of emergency and lifetime upheaval, there is comfort often found in the likeness of our small worlds. The big world is connected by our small things (like toilet paper, or laundry) and this is so succinctly displayed in an artwork that has gained international recognition by Artist - Mahalia Amatina - entitled Around the World in 80 Washing Lines. The photographs, along with the short blogs, promote inclusiveness and remind us of our shared human stories, no matter who we are or where we live - we all have dirty clothes to wash and dry.

big world, SMALL WORLD.

There are remarkable places to have conversations about neurodiversity in the global community – on line, in galleries, at conferences and in the street. Some of the most intriguing can be within the safe walls of clinics that celebrate neurodiversity by delving deep into functional neurology and the power of neuroplasticity. Clinics that look closely at the how a brain works and the full fascinating life story of the individual looking to know more about their own diverse neuro-self.

On ABC’s program ‘You Can’t Ask That – Autism Spectrum’ that aired on the 8th of April (and is available to watch now on iview: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/you-can-t-ask-that/series/5/video/LE1917H004S00), ‘the spectrum’ was described so eloquently by Dr Lisa Gershwin and Alex Linker as ‘a constellation in space where we [individuals with autism] are all at different points in space. Not a spectrum from NOT Autistic to VERY autistic’. Charlie goes on to say that ‘what [autism] has allowed him to do is actually outstanding’. This Autism Awareness month we are grateful for the varied voices, inspiring stories and awesome artwork of individuals from around the world with a diagnosis of autism, in all its brilliant stellar spectrum and universal wisdom.

big world, SMALL WORLD.

About the author - Ms. Emily Goss (Occupational Therapist, Senior Clinician, The Perth Brain Centre).