In Autism Ontario's premiere of In Focus, the after show, Matt Ley and Stephanie Moeser dive deeper into the topics from Autism Ontario’s Signature Series webinar on self-advocacy for autistic women and girls. They address unanswered audience questions and explore key strategies to support self-advocacy development at home, school, and beyond.
Key topics discussed:
✅ Masking and its impact: The conversation highlights how autistic women and girls often mask their traits to fit in, which can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of creating safe, unmasking spaces at home and in the community.
✅ Parental involvement and modelling advocacy: Parents play a critical role in advocating for their children and modelling self-advocacy skills. Stephanie shares practical ways to gradually involve children in advocating for their needs, such as providing choices and including them in conversations with teachers or doctors.
✅ Transitioning to independence: The discussion covers the challenges autistic individuals face when transitioning to adulthood, including navigating post-secondary education and the workplace. Stephanie offers tips on preparing teens early by building practical skills like making appointments, communicating needs, and understanding their rights.
✅ Disclosure and accommodations: The episode explores the complexities of disclosing an autism diagnosis. Stephanie explains how individuals can request accommodations without fully disclosing their diagnosis, focusing instead on their functional needs.
✅ Building resilience in advocacy: When self-advocacy efforts are met with resistance or rejection, Stephanie encourages normalizing these experiences and offering emotional support. She shares strategies for helping individuals process disappointment and remain motivated to self-advocate.
✅ Finding peer support: The importance of connecting with other autistic individuals through peer groups or online communities is highlighted as a way to build confidence, share experiences, and reduce the pressures of masking. Watch this after-show for practical insights and real-world strategies to empower autistic individuals in their self-advocacy journey.
In addition to the aftershow, register to watch the full interviews completed with self-advocates Lauren Portengen and Patricia Baxter to hear their insights and lived experience with self-advocacy.
This presentation will highlight the importance of building self-advocacy skills in girls and women; however, the messaging and strategies are applicable to all genders.
Ready to Dive Deeper? In Focus, the aftershow is now available. Click here for details!
This webinar will offer valuable insights and practical advice for autistic individuals and their families.
Missed the Signature Series Webinar? Don't worry! Our webinars are available for viewing on-demand. Click here to view the original Building Self-Advocacy Skills for Autistic Women and Girls with Stephanie Moeser webinar.
Stephanie Moeser, (she/her), MSW, RSW
Stephanie has a small private practice which primarily focuses on supporting autistic folks through a neurodivergent affirming lens. She specializes in supporting autistic students attending post-secondary education and autistic girls, women, trans and non-binary people providing mental health supports addressing areas of relationships, wellness, and issues related to managing mental health challenges such as anxiety and mood disorders.
Over the years Stephanie has presented on the topic of wellness and self-care to parents/caregivers, people living with disabilities, mental health professionals and allied health professionals. She is passionate about the need to talk about feelings and to integrate active compassion into one life.
Meet Our Moderator: Matt Ley
Matt Ley is the current President and co-founder of The Streaming Network. Starting his career in virtual events in 2007, Matt is an industry veteran who is passionate about helping customers stand out in their industry with compelling virtual events that people want to attend. The driving ambition for Matt is that virtual events are not a utility for information distribution but an opportunity for firms to create a competitive advantage. Matt is an accomplished moderator, dedicated to creating engaging, accessible virtual experiences that resonate with audiences and provide meaningful value.
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Disclaimer: Opinions reflected in this webinar are those of the speaker(s) and presenter(s), and do not necessarily reflect Autism Ontario’s views. Please note Autism Ontario does not endorse any specific therapy, product, treatment, strategy, opinion, service, or individual. We do, however, endorse your right to information. Autism Ontario strongly believes that it is important to do your own research and make your own informed decisions.