07. Neurodiversity

Family, Whanau and Disability

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0
Guests: Paula Jessop and Jason Edgecombe
Paula Jessop is an autistic woman who advocates for ‘radical acceptance’ of autism as a valid type of neurological difference and supporting autistic people through strengths-based methods. She has been a member of a range of autism reference groups most recently including a Te Pou group aimed at formulating an autism skills framework for the disability workforce. Along with being a founding member of the Consumer Reference Group, Paula works with Altogether Autism in an advisory role as an autistic advocate.
Paula has strong connections with Autistic communities and works as an independent autism mentor through her own business Autism Insights as well as working for Enrich+ co-facilitating an autistic youth group and supporting disabled people living in community. Paula also gives ‘lived experience’ workshops for Altogether Autism or Autism Insights aimed at assisting parents and professionals to understand autism from ‘the inside’.
Jason Edgecombe is an entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, gamer, martial artist, medieval reenactor, husband and father and has high-functioning autism. Jason is the founder and a mentor at One Unique Minds (formerly Breaking the Label), a Tauranga-based organisation that offers one-on-one and small group mentoring and personal development to people on the autism spectrum. The aim of Jason’s peer mentoring service is not to help people manage or accept their ‘special needs’ and its limitations, but to identify and develop the strengths and amazing talents that each person on the spectrum has to offer.
Programme Synopsis

• The language around neurodiversity
• Acceptance and celebration of neurodiversity

Music
“Bird set free” by Sia
Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support
Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.
Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.
Links

• Jason Edgecombe TedX talk
• Paula Jessop’s Blog
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only