British Autism Advocate Carly Jones MBE

https://blog.scope.org.uk/2016/11/25/disabled-people-and-domestic-abuse-we-need-to-do-better/?fbclid=IwAR0Z0Pmt4psQyAdaHWsvw6eNq6-nPu0RzZ1YEyS1Sz45TWqHZqgnNioOkWM

It is with great elation and gratitude to be invited by Scope Charity to attend Parliment next month as one of the Charities 3 disability story tellers for the vital Jo Cox Loneliness Commission .

The legacy of Jo Coxs kindness and human connection is one dear to my heart and I am grateful to Scope and our MPs for the chance to discuss how bet to include,safeguard and support the Autistic community young and old in an equal life experince free from isolation .

The issue of Autism awareness ,understandings and access to media for Women and girls is one that is naturally very close to my heart .

It was with great excitement to be able to participate in the National Autistic Societys first women and girls module filming which aims to explore how our traits can be percieved differently and discuss our collective experiences and hurdles .

On Tuesday 18th April Huw Merriman MP ,Cheryl Gillian MP the National Autistic society and Ambitious about Autism held the APPGA evidence session on Education and Autism .

It was a pleasure to attend as Include me too Autism representative and hear about the fantastic progress happening in Parliament for our young Autistic children in the UK today .

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/15/women-autistic-mothers-undiagnosed-children

International Women's day is alway the perfect timing to promote an raise awareness of the safeguarding of emotional ,practical,and mental health andthe hurdles that still today are challenges for Autistic females both locally and globally .

It was with great honour that in UK India Year of culture 2017 my 2014 documentary following our families multiple female Autism diagnosis was Offically selected for the We Care Film festival in India screening women's films on International women's day .

Locally in London charity Scope shared my blog about the consequences and importance of timely autism diagnosis and the costs of late diagnosis ,I was later informed by Scope the blog is the most read blog of the year at Scope and I am still carving out time to be replying to the many emails to amazing women the blog reached , a huge thanks to Scope !

https://blog.scope.org.uk/2017/03/08/it-took-me-32-years-to-get-a-diagnosis-why-is-autism-in-girls-still-overlooked/

To be the Author of an article for the National British Newpaper The IPaper was a real privilege.

Sex Education for all really MUST mean for ALL and with the vital news (don't be mislead by headline ) that Sex Ed is now compulsory it's the perfect time to have the lessons tweaked to be fully inclusive for Autistic students in mainstream,SEN or Home educational settings .

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/im-not-jumping-joy-sex-education/

On international Women's day I was fortunate enough to be invited by the National Autistic Society to Co Chair the NAS Professional conference in Harrogate Yorkshire UK .

It was a real full circle moment of a personal level also as it was the first time I returned to Harrogate since one of my first large presentations on Autistic Females at the same conference in 2013 .

The change in our society's awareness ,understandings and approach to Autism and Females has been on a unprecedented level in the years since , it was a truly outstanding feeling to go back ,celebrate ,reflect and support .

PhD researcher Ruth Moyse ,CAMHS Clinical lead Mairi Evans and myself are relieved and encouraged to be notified that our recent submission raising concerns and practical soloutions to safeguarding the mental health of Autistic children in mainstream education has been accepted and published by the UK parliament committee .

http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/health-committee/children-and-young-peoples-mental-healththe-role-of-education/written/45046.pdf

http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/health-committee/children-and-young-peoples-mental-healththe-role-of-education/written/45046.pdf

Following the Queen opening the Cyber Security offices in London the CyberFirst Girls competition has been launched hoping to encourage ,excite and explain what Cyber security /legal hacking is to young bright women whilst participating in a four part online competition to prove their talents and skills .

Four academy Aspergers girls have been selected to participate and we are keen to start this following week.

Huge thanks to Clive Act of Livelywood Pictures for sponsoring the girls a top tech IT media suite to use for the duration of this exciting project .

It was a delight to be invited to participate in the filming of Scottish Autisms Right Click Internet project for Autistic women and girls.

The project will consist of various interviews,resources and support from advocates ,interviewees and Psychologists such as Tony Attwood .

It was a honour to be able to participate, we know how timely the need for better understandings for women and girls are and I know Right Click is an inevitable success to move forward for our women and girls .

Thank you to Scottish Autism and SWAN from taking such great care of my daughters and I ,we had never been to Scotland so it was a real treat for us all ,Scotland was breathtakingly beautiful.

On Thursday 16th Febuary 2017 Channel 4 aired their Autism and girls special feature to which the feedback from hundreds of parents and women has been phenomenal .

Channel 4 featured Limpsfield Grange the ONLY state run autistic girls school in the UK which is headed by Sarah Wilde .

Carrie Grant was live in the Channel 4 studio and advocated perfectly for Autistic girls .

I would like to personally thank Keme at Channel 4 News for his professionalism,autism awareness and for making this happen to change so many lives .

Please do watch here

https://www.channel4.com/news/girls-affected-by-autism

http://nationalautismproject.org.uk/the-autism-dividend

On Tuesday 17th January The National Autism Project held a reception event at the House of Lords for the launch of "The Autism Dividend " report requesting sounder research in Autism in the UK.

It was a pleasure to attend as Autism representatives of IM2 Charity on behalf of my good friend and fellow advocate Parmi Dheensa.

You can read more about this vital report using the above link.

http://www.radiofreeuk.org/blogs/alan/2016/10/13/disabled-campaigner-tells-un-of-discrimination-faced-by-autistic-females/

Thanks to Radio Free UK for sharing this audio article covering the UN Geneva Trip of October 2016 raising awareness of Autistic females .

The Women and Equalities Committee held an evidence meeting at Portcullis House Westminster on Wednesday 11th Jan 2017 to discuss the implementation of United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goal 5 in the UK .

Dr Helen Mott spoke about the groups left behind in the UK and included the needs of disabled women and girls .

You can read my submitted and published evidence here http://data.parliament.uk/WrittenEvidence/CommitteeEvidence.svc/EvidenceDocument/Women%20and%20Equalities/Implementation%20of%20Sustainable%20Development%20Goal%205%20in%20the%20UK/written/44051.html

You can watch the inquiry on Parliament TV here .

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/852c0908-06a9-4080-88b3-8fcdfe8de35e

 A short film made for Autism Berkshire , Bracknell Forest Council and Thanes Valley Police UK featuring 2 Autistic adults sharing their experiences with local Police in the UK .
What are common misunderstandings ? What could be improved to help both the the Police and Autistic community? 

It is with elation and great encouragement that I today learned that the written submission submitted to the UK Womens Equality Committees Inquiry of Goal 5 implementation has been accepted .

The main point raised being,

*The Clinical Misogyny towards Autistic females in the UK why we require equal access to diagnosis and the models of British clinical excellence to replicate nationally. (1)

* How the Standard Of Living for Autistic Women and Girls in the UK standard is not reflective of living in a developed country. -Why the 2030 Goals are Important. (2)

*How the Department of Health and  Education Must Communicate and Work Together in Order to offer Autistic Women and Girls Equality in Education, Sexual /Reproductive Health and Safeguarding.(3)

*How the Autism Act 2009 Must Add Autistic Women and Girls as a Policy Priority by 2019(4)

* The Challenges of Measuring Autistic Women and Girls Progress, the Effect this has on Autistic Women and Girls Being Neglected in Policy , The Hidden Cost of Unsupported Autism and How To Combat this .(5)

http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/women-and-equalities-committee/implementation-of-sustainable-development-goal-5-in-the-uk/written/44051.html

Here's to a equal 2017 and beyond.

Carly X

http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/un-sustainable-development-goal-5-16-17/publications/

In February 2016 I was invited by the National Autistic Society to present a talk to the London Samaritains about Autism to better aid their work for Autistic callers.

I decided it was appropriate to dedicate the talk to Matthew Percy , an autism advocate and keen young politician who sadly lost his own life at an Ipswich Train Station less than 12 months before the presentation.

We know thanks to Autistica UK research that the Autistic community are 9 times more likely to take own life , sadly ,through my own informal survey of 44 anonymous Autistic adults , I was told that 73% of Autistic adults feel unable to use the phone to make a voice call in a time of crisis .

Helplines answer a phone call in 3 rings .

A text or email is responded to in 4-12 hours.

Car parks /Train stations only issue a phone number , text and email contact is not so keenly advertised .

This information ,as with most of my talks goes online as a free resource after presentation.

Important findings are also shared with the experts .

It is with thanks to one such expert , Ann Memmott vice chair of APPAGA at Parliament, who ensured that this week the information so desperately needed is now on the hands of those at a level to make meaningful changes in the UK .

A apt dedication to Matthew Percy .

A throughly timely opportunity to save Autistic lives for 2017 and beyond .

https://blog.scope.org.uk/2016/11/25/disabled-people-and-domestic-abuse-we-need-to-do-better/

free online course for Autistic girls

On Sunday 30th October the new ,free online course aired .

I created "Boundaries,Bodies ,Abuse and Reporting it for Autistic girls " with Open Learning website in order to help start to fill a much needed gap in health and safeguarding education for those on the Autistic spectrum and Home educated - the course however is open and welcome to anyone who feels they or a loved one may benefit from taking part.

I hope that is will be the first of many online courses for Teachers,Health professionals and more .

All courses aimed at young people / Autistic community will be free of charge .

Carly X