Life with an “I CAN” Attitude:My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer

Penny Robinson, I CAN Network Ambassador@PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink

Today’s talk• I CAN Network

– How it started

– What it is & why it is needed

– The four “pillars” of I CAN

• My journey to becoming an Assistant Lecturer

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

“I CAN” Chief Enabling Officer

Chris Varney, TEDxMelbourne, May 2013https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1HQKB2txgY

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

What is the “I CAN” Network?Focus on strengths “I CAN”not deficits “I can’t”.

By the spectrum, for the spectrum.

Autism = AWEtism

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Why is “I CAN” needed?• Around 1 in 100 Australians are on the Autism Spectrum.

• 86% of students on the spectrum report facing ‘difficulty’ in schools

• 81% of people on the spectrum have NO post-school qualification

• 58% of people with Autism are not in employment.

Source: ABS Publication 4428.0 Autism in Australia, 2012

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

My perspectiveWhen I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome 18 years ago, I didn’t know anyone else on the spectrum, but I knew I was “different”.Almost 5 years after my diagnosis, I found out that someone I knew at uni also had Aspergers. I started jumping up and down in the campus centre at lunchtime! I was so excited to finally know someone else.The I CAN Network will allows to have what I didn’t have – know they are not alone during their schooling years.

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

The start of “I CAN”

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What contributes to “I CAN”?

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Game Change report

ican.network/gamechange

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

The Four Pillars of “I CAN”1. ‘I CAN Achieve’ – mentoring children, adolescents and

young adults on the spectrum2. ‘I CAN Enable, Not Label’ – building the capacity of

educators of young people on the spectrum3. ‘I CAN Create Change’ – advocacy that drives a rethink of

Autism, from ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I CAN’4. ‘I CAN Invest in Talent’ – talent development of young

people and fundraising for I CAN Network

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

1. ‘I CAN Achieve’Mentoring children, adolescents and young adults on the spectrum

2. ‘I CAN Enable, Not Label’Building the capacity of educators of young people on the spectrum

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Mentoring

I CANUniversity Networks

http://www.rupert.id.au/images/vic-sm.gif

“I CAN” Camps

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I CAN Camps - Activities

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Dress to Obsess “AWE ball”

I CAN SchoolsMarymede

Julia Wake, Head of Secondary School, Office door!

Simple things for sensory overload!

3. ‘I CAN Create Change’Advocacy that drives a rethink of Autism, from ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I CAN’

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Social media• Popular communication method for young adults!

• > 1,300 Facebook page “likes”

• > 1,200 Facebook group members

• #AWEtismRethink hashtag on Twitter

• Chris’s TEDx talk > 150k views on YouTube

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Promotion / Clothing

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

AMAZE (Autism Victoria) partnered with many other organisations including “I CAN” for “Spectrospective”.

They wanted to raise awareness of the different experiences of autism.www.spectrospective.com.auhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYaB8YTZ2M

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Website: http://awegust.ican.network/ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cr0ptsir7oPenny’s page: https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

4. ‘I CAN Invest in Talent’Talent development of young people and fundraising for I CAN Network

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

I CAN Network Awards

2014 Monash VC Social Inclusion Award

2015 ASPECT Awards

Damien Watson, 2014. Coles Community Hero Awardee.

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

I CAN Network Ambassadors

Tim Chan, TEDxMelbourne, Dec 2013https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woy-XzC-UVs

Chris and team, VAC 2014

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

http://bit.ly/Penny-TheAge-Aug14 12 Aug 2014

‘Penny’s attention to detail is an absolute strength in her job as a statistician as she will never rest until the numbers add up.Penny works to her strengths and our research group is the fortunate beneficiary of all these qualities.’

Prof Robin BellDeputy Director, Women’s Health Research Program,

Monash University

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

My Journey to becoming an Assistant Lecturer

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

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https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

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Prof Rita Jordan

“The biggest gift you can give to people with autism is time.”

Victorian Autism Conference, Aug 2014

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

Aged 6 ½ weeks Grandpa reading “Don’t Forget, Matilda!” to me

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

When I was being bullied in lower secondary school …

Grandma gave me the “Real Gorgeous” book.

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

My 21st birthday collage – made by Grandma.

Perfect timing, Uncle David!

Photo collage,Made by Grandma

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

First independent holiday, November 2000Great Victorian Bike Ride

Apollo Bay lookout.

First solo conference, July 2008Population Health Congress, Brisbane.

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

Grandma’s old house in Brighton

Independence starts here.• First sleepover as child.• Destination for solo bike rides.• Solo “P’s” car drive!• Dinner there, sleep alone at parents.

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

Grandma’s “Cartref”Granny flat at my parent’s.

“Changing the guard of independence”

• December 2005: Grandma cooked dinner for me, while parents away.

• 2011 – 2013: Grandma gave cooking advice to me while parents away.

• December 2014: I moved back for 2 weeks to look after Grandma while parents away.

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

Family dinner each evening – routine.

As younger sisters “grew up” this changed.Mum started putting out a meal for Grandma every night.My new routine = taking a dinner up to Grandma’s every night.

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

3 August 2013 – first time bidding at auction success!

Family support helped me buy my own place, 2 km away.

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

@I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink

@i_can_network (https://instagram.com/i_can_network/)

https://www.linkedin.com/company/6424991

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheICanNetwork/playlists

Page: https://www.facebook.com/theicannetwork

Group: www.facebook.com/groups/icannetwork.au

Any questions?

https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

Website: www.ican.network Contact Us: http://ican.network/contact Newsletter signup: eepurl.com/buf5DbVolunteer: http://bit.ly/ICAN_Volunteer

Email: penny@icannetwork.com.au