AIM 
Autism Inclusion Matters
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    • Contact Us
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AIM 
Autism Inclusion Matters
  • Home
  • Make a Donation
  • Meet the Team
  • A Safe Space
  • Accessing The AUtism Zone
  • What's Inside?
  • What's On?
  • Group & Session Info
    • For Adults (18+)
    • For Young People (12- 17)
    • For Children (4-12)
  • Sensory Library
  • Autistic Voices
  • AIM's Work With Schools
  • Videos of The AUtism Zone
  • Autism Strategy IOW
  • Autism Assessment - IOW
  • Useful Links and Info
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Things We Can't Help With

Meet the Team

aldo

Bex

Claire

David

Gemma

Harvey

Jude

Layla

Linda

Stacey

 Zoë 

Aldo: Peer Support Mentor

About me:

 I am neurodivergent, have sensory processing differences and I am waiting to finalise the assessment. It has been a “fact” I have known for my entire life, but I reached an “eureka- no going back moment” -being hit the hard way- a couple of years ago. It wouldn’t be too much of a surprise if I had ADHD too, keeping still is not within my best abilities while my concentration fluctuates greatly depending on many factors. I can occasionally stare at people/body parts with/without realising it, some call this as being part of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I have alexithymia which I would describe as being almost incapable to recognise and describe most of my own self and sometimes others’ emotions. Big mood swings are what I do and anxiety has shadowed me for most of my life. 

What people like and admire about me:

  

· Serious 

· Determined

· Sarcastic  

· Neuroqueer (don’t conform to neurotypical standards) 

· Driven

· Logic

· Reasonably knowledgeable

· Focused 

· Kind 

What's important to me:

· My children.

· My own company.

· Systemic thinking.

· I am obsessed with language.

· Trekking in nature. Ideally for days, in the Dolomites, bare foot.

· Training for climbing, enjoying sensory experiences and supporting my sensory processing differences. 

· Paolo Nutini and David Grey.

· Learning (books, videos, blogs). The story goes that… my struggle with social interactions has led me to try and understand myself. This has helped me to feel more in control and lower my anxiety.

Talk to me about:

 · Autism as a healthy, natural brain difference and the difficulty living in a society made for allistic people.

· Physical, mental health and well-being.

· Relationships and their dynamics.

· Intersectionality.

· Exercise/sports (ton of data on good outcome).

· Nutrition (and its fairy tales).

· Systemic thinking/ relationally responsive interactions.

· A medical system that over medicates. Instead, how about, less pills, more skills.

· Anything you would like to focus on, I’ll be happy to learn from your own experiences!

Bex: Peer Support Mentor

About me:

I am cheese loving Bex!

I was diagnosed with both autism and ADHD in my 30s and it was as if everything fell in to place! 

I am more than happy to fidget, stim and can not sit or stand still for long.

What people like and admire about me:

  • Kind
  • Honest
  • Funny
  • My hair!

What's important to me:

  • Sustainability - I hate plastic toothbrushes, it's all about bamboo!
  • Animals, particularly raccoons, ducks and rabbits. 
  • Justice
  • Harry Potter (minus JK Rowling!)

Talk to me about:

  • Skin picking and scarring
  • Stimming
  • Wellness via nature
  • Domestic abuse
  • Stalking
  • Eating disorders

Claire: AIM Service Manager

About me:

 I am 42 years old and was diagnosed as autistic as an adult.

I have 2 young adult children  who are also neurodivergent. 

I am also physically disabled with a neurological  condition. 

I spend my free time watching Marvel films and doing which ever new  interest has caught my attention!  

What people like and admire about me:

  •  Determined
  • Organised
  • Funny 
  • Creative
  • Great at explaining!
  • Good listener
  • Inspiring
  • Committed
  • Supportive 

What's important to me:

  •  My family
  • Everything to do with Autism!
  • Keeping busy
  • To work around my abilities
  • To keep learning new skills  and sharing them
  • Listening to music while I  work
  • Having fun with my family in  our own unique way
  • Chocolate 
  • Birds Eye Chicken Dippers
  • Tweezers
  • Sleep! And lots of it!!
  • Marvel and the Marvel  Cinematic Universe

Talk to me about:

  • Autistic burnout 
  • Skin picking
  • Sensory processing and anything to  do with the Sensory Library 
  • Disability equality and health issues
  • Autistic women and girls  

David: Peer Support Mentor

About me:

I was diagnosed as autistic at 45 years old. 

I have a son who is also  autistic. 

I have a lot of interests and I enjoy doing a wide variety of "nerdy" things! I love  reading, writing, music and knowing about sports. Most of all, I enjoy fantasy literature, board  games, role-playing games, and particularly playing and running Dungeons and Dragons as  Dungeon Master. 

I am currently running two games of D&D for AIM, one for teenagers and  one for adults. 

I am enthusiastic about supporting other autistic people to grow in confidence,  helping them to communicate more effectively, and enjoying social time with others. 

What people like and admire about me:

  • Intelligent 
  • Reliable 
  • Well-organised 
  • Sociable 
  • Wide range of interesting  and random knowledge 

What's important to me:

  • Looking after my son
  • My family 
  • Supporting autistic people to help  them face challenges 
  • Music
  • Literature
  • Art 
  • Sport 
  • Fantasy role-playing games 
  • Collecting knowledge and making  theories about life from that  knowledge 

Talk to me about:

  • Being an autistic parent 
  • Having an autistic child 
  • Getting diagnosed with autism as  an adult 
  • Deep diving interests and their  importance for an autistic person 
  • Autistic experiences in education 
  • How autistic people can be  supported to remove their  “masks” 
  • Discussing being autistic with  neurotypical people 

Gemma: Peer Support Mentor

About me:

 I was diagnosed autistic as an adult. I am a mother to a uniquely amazing son and currently a biomedical science student. I have HSD and chronic pain from several physical conditions as well as CPTSD. I love science and nature, especially the woods and butterflies. I love dystopian fiction and when my shoulder allows, I enjoy drawing, painting and baton twirling. 

What people like and admire about me:

  • My determination
  • My knowledge
  • My empathy for people but animals more
  • My kindness
  •  The special way I have of explaining science
  • My attention to detail
  • My twirling talents

What's important to me:

  • My son’s happiness and my family
  •  Lifelong learning and developing strategies to help myself and others learn 
  • All living things and respect for nature
  • Being outside in the woods
  • Being well enough to enjoy life and make the best memories with my little boy
  • Creating peace amongst the chaos
  • Advocating for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves and helping people acquire the skills to advocate for themselves
  • Supporting my friends
  • Twirling
  • Photography
  • Art (wildlife and medical illustration specifically)
  • Lepidoptera( butterflies and moths)
  •  Routine/ stability 

Talk to me about:

  •  Adult diagnosis
  • Anxiety/ depression/trauma/disordered eating and support pathways
  • Self-medicating
  • Chewing/ picking and other stimming behaviours
  • Accommodations in educational settings/ returning to education
  • Parenting challenges and accessing support as an autistic parent 
  • Physical disability/ co-occurring conditions
  •  Being an autistic female 
  • Your deep diving passions; if you are interested then I am interested!

Harvey: Youth Volunteer

About me:

What people like and admire about me:

  • Knowledge of cars
  • Honesty
  • Problem solving-skills
  • How caring I am for those that have earned my respect
  • Sense of humour  

What's important to me:

  • Cars
  • My racing simulator
  • Animals - except spiders!
  • People respecting me
  • Freedom to make my own choices

Talk to me about:

  • Cars - only the most interesting ones,. Definitely not Nissan Cubes or pink Micras!

Jude: Children & Families Manager

About me:

I am Autistic (PDA) and have ADHD - AuDHD. 

I was diagnosed with both in my late 30s. 

I am also dyspraxic and have  Gravitational Insecurity (GI) which makes me feel as if I’m about to float off into  space a lot of the time and means I also have generalised anxiety. 

I have one  child, and they are also Autistic (PDA) and ADHD. 

What people like and admire about me:

  • Honest 
  • Funny 
  • Passionate
  • Kind
  • Forgiving
  • Always up for a takeaway

What's important to me:

  • My family 
  • Things being clean and tidy
  • Visual aesthetics
  • Calmer Flares
  • Control
  • Being able to move
  • Spreadsheets
  • Books
  • Coffee, preferably intravenously
  • 90’s Brit Pop/Indie
  • Honesty
  • Smells-I love scented candles
  • My weighted blanket
  • Quiet and time on my own
  • Zelda
  • Learning and reflection
  • Fairness
  • Logic 

Talk to me about:

  • AuDHD
  • PDA/Demand Avoidance
  • Young people & behaviour
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Skin picking (visual)
  • Self-medicating
  • Anxiety
  • Gravitational Insecurity 

Layla: Youth Peer Support Mentor

About me:

 I have just completed my  Level 3 Diploma in Early Years with an additional qualification in Sexual Health. 

I find it hard to process and remember lots of information. One or two things at a  time, or writing lists is really helpful. 

If you want me to do something, or help you with something, ask me, I’m happy  to help. 

What people like and admire about me:

  • Kind
  • Funny

What's important to me:

  • My family 
  •  My friends 
  • Horror films 
  • Drum & Bass 
  • Make-up 
  • Chicken and bacon sandwiches 
  • Iced coffee 

Talk to me about:

  •  Processing 
  • Growing up in a neurodiverse family 
  • How important EHCPs can be for a  child or young person 
  • Finding the right friends 

Linda: Sensory Library Coordinator

About me:

 I am a volunteer for AIM and keep the Sensory Library running. I love being by the sea and gardening, and walking my dog Milly.

What people like and admire about me:

More Info Coming Soon

What's important to me:

  • Gardening
  • My dog Milly
  • Match 3 games

Talk to me about:

  •  The Sensory Library

Stacey: Volunteer Peer Support Mentor

About me:

COMING SOON!

What people like and admire about me:

COMING SOON!

What's important to me:

COMING SOON!

Talk to me about:

COMING SOON!

Zoë: Volunteer Peer Support Mentor

About me:

 I was diagnosed as autistic as an adult.

I am a visual thinker and process information far more easily and accurately through use of pictures or by demonstration.

I experience alexithymia which makes it difficult for me to describe or understand my emotions. 

I have social and generalised anxiety.  

What people like and admire about me:

  • Creativity
  • Attention to detail
  • Kindness
  • Thinking outside the box (or similar receptacle)
  • Planning (and subsequent back-up plans)
  • Sense of humour 

What's important to me:

  •  My family
  • Home - my safe space
  • London Underground iconography 
  • Picture and pop-up books, comics and graphic novels
  • Circles, spheres, spirals and cogs
  • My sunglasses
  • Metal objects - preferably silver in colour
  • Stability and predictability 
  • Printed circuit boards (PCB’s)
  • Respect of all living things and their importance on      this planet
  • Shorts with plenty of pockets
  • Lego
  • Animation
  • Time and patience

Talk to me about:

 Or even better, show me...

  • Your interests and passions
  • Your ideas and concepts
  • Any books with pictures 
  • Your collections and ‘finds'

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