Autism Expressed 🗣️ Victoria Park

Join us in a safe, structured place to share a bit about your experience with autism, or just listen to how others have navigated autism.

This event aims to set a space for us to talk about our experiences on the spectrum, there will be 2 topics which we will all have the opportunity to share about. This is a timed share event and to give everyone the chance to express without competition we reframe from interruptions and cross talk while others are sharing.

We will take a 10 minute break after the second topic.

There is no obligation to share and you are welcome to just listen. When the formal part of the event is over we will chat openly, ask questions, and maybe play a game or two to lighten to mood.

There is free parking on surrounding streets, such as Merton St. Tuan St. Hubert St. and also at the recreation center.

-=Timeline=-

1800 access venue, setup

1820 event begins

2000 finish formal sharing

2030 leave venue

-=Topics=-

PROMPT PAGE 3

1: Check-in
How are you today? What is causing you stress and concern? What are you pleased about? Are you running on adrenaline or are you grounded? How organized do you feel? Do you feel in control of your life? Do you worry that your plans aren’t going to eventuate? How are you feeling?
2: OCD, Perfectionism, Obsessions, Compulsions
Do you obsess? What do you find it hard to walk away from? Are you a perfectionist? Do your obsessions help you? Do you feel there is fear and anxiety behind your compulsions? Is it hard to let go? What do you spend too much time on? Are these habits bad for you? Do you feel balanced?
3: Your Relationship with Yourself
Do you trust yourself to take care of yourself? Are you confident? Do you feel safe? Are you disciplined and organized? Do you like yourself? Have you blamed yourself for things that haven’t gone your way? Has your relationship with yourself improved?
4: Information Overload
Do you feel you are able to moderate how much information comes in? Do you feel overwhelmed often? How does it feel when you are trying to take in more than you can handle? How do you wish people would try to impart information to you? Are you able to communicate your limits and boundaries?
5: Survival Mode and Adrenaline
Have you spent much time with high adrenaline? Do you worry about your nervous system? Are you in survival mode now? How aware are you of adrenaline and stress levels? Do you ever feel unsafe when you objectively are safe? Is it hard to come down and relax? How do you release tension?
6: Rejection Or Not Fitting In
Do you feel accepted and part of? Are you anxious or tense around others? Do you feel understood? Do you have social anxiety? Does your social confidence fluctuate? Do you find other hard to understand? Do you ever feel left out? How do you make people like you? Are social situations exhausting?
7: Trust and Safety
How is your sense of safety in general? Do you trust easily? Do you expect others to understand you? Are you good at protecting yourself? How do you handle change? Do you trust yourself? Are you anxious about things in general? Do you find it hard to come down?
8: Effective Communication
Do you feel you can communicate clearly? Do you often feel as if you have not been able to express your point? How would you like to communicate differently? Are you aware of how you make others feel? Are you ever too brash of sharp? Do you practice what you want to say?
9: Autistic Deference (letting others take the lead)
Do you turn to others for support? Are you grateful when others take the lead? Do you have allies that help you? Do you do things alone too much? How do you avoid mental distress? Do you overly trust? Do you give your power away at times?
10: Growing Up Autistic
Did you know you were autistic growing up? Was it a happy childhood? How did you go socially as a child? Did you feel different or did you fit in? Did you have any quirky habits? Were you confident or anxious? Do you wish you had of understood autism better? How was your support?

Hope to see you there 🙂
Thanks
Chris

-== About SAGE ==-

SAGE is a social group for people who identify as being on the autistic spectrum. You do not need a formal diagnosis to come along to events and support people are welcome.
Our core values are respect, acceptance, and community, and by holding to these values we aim to create a friendly and safe place for members to relate to others and have some fun.
New members are always welcome and we understand that it can take courage to attend events if you don’t get out often. Feel free to message event hosts for details or assurance. We want to meet you. We want all our events be psychological safe spaces and do not tolerate aggressive or inappropriate behavior.

SAGE is entirely volunteer operated and was established in February 2020. If you would like to support SAGE donations are welcome at:

https://gofund.me/187847a2