This newsletter contains new tip sheets covering some key mental health-related topics to support Autistic students, their families and schools.
Back To School Resources for Autistic Students & Their Families
Dear Friends
The new school year in Australia is on the immediate horizon. From personal experience, I appreciate that the return to school - and especially the start of high school - can be an overwhelming time for Autistic young people.
On behalf of our I CAN team, we are very proud to share some resources to support Autistic students, as well as their families and schools. Our resources - particularly the pieces aimed at Autistic young people - heavily reflect the insights of our Autistic young adults mentors who have recent experience in navigating school themselves. Our Autistic-led mentoring programs - both school-based and online - offer safe, fun spaces where Autistic young people can feel celebrated and supported.
TIP SHEETS TO SUPPORT MENTAL WELLBEING
Our newest resources are a suite of tip sheets to cover some key mental health-related topics. Each set includes guidance for their younger Autistic peers as well as specific advice aimed at adults (parents/carers/teaching staff) who support Autistic young people. Thank you to the Department of Education and Training Victoria (DET) for sponsoring our creation of these materials. Black and white versions are available on the resources section of our website.
Autistic insights and advice on how to mitigate the anxiety that can stem from having executive functioning challenges. Additional resources links included within.
How to leverage Autistic passions and maintain connections to support the mental wellbeing of Autistic young people. Additional resources links included within.
ENQUIRE ABOUT OUR I CAN SCHOOLS PROGRAM
I CAN School® mentoring directly empowers Autistic students with optimism, belonging, self-acceptance, pride and confidence.
We offer face-to-face programs in both primary and high schools in four regions: Greater Melbourne, Goulburn Murray (Sheppaton to Echuca) and South West (Colac to Portland) and Queensland (Brisbane, South East Queensland & North Coast Queensland) as well as online nationally.
To learn more about our schools program, including downloadable brochures and guidance for bringing I CAN to your/your young person’s school, please click here.
ENQUIRE ABOUT OUR I CAN ONLINE PROGRAM
Our Autistic-led online mentoring programs offer safe, supportive spaces where Autistic young people can connect with I CAN Mentors and peers to share interests and common experiences. Cycles of 6 weekly sessions run throughout the year. The next cycle kicks off during the first week of school (1 February). Our programs are open to Autistic young people ages 9-20 across Australia and New Zealand.
For more information, please click here or email us at online@icannetwork.com.au.
WEBINARS & TIP SHEETS FOR NAVIGATING HIGH SCHOOL
Navigating High School: Tips for Parents of Autistic Students (Jan, 2020)
Anyone familiar with our work knows that my mum Lisa’s approach to parenting me was a major inspiration behind my creation of the I CAN Network. Last year she and I sat down to record this webinar sharing our insights and tips to give parents more confidence to support their Autistic young person through their high school journey.
Click here to view the webinar.
Click here for the related tip sheet.
Navigating High School: Tips And Encouragement From Autistic Young Adults (Jan, 2020)
It’s also very important that our Autistic young people know that they are not alone in this journey. To this end, four of our Autistic mentors – all young adults who remember high school quite clearly –recorded their advice and encouragement for Autistic students who might need some peer support.
Click here to view the webinar.
Click here for the related tip sheet.
Please also follow us on Facebook, where we routinely share insights and materials from within and beyond our team to benefit Autistic young people, their families and their schools. This includes pieces like showing Autistic students how they can create a strengths-based “I CAN Profile” to share with teachers and staff.
We are very proud to showcase so many Autistic voices and hope that these resources will help you and your young person navigating the new year.
QUIRE ABOUT OUR I CAN SCHOOLS PROGRAM 
