Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer

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


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1HQKB2txgY

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

By the spectrum, for the spectrum.

Autism = AWEtism


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


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.


The start of “I CAN”


What contributes to “I CAN”?


Game Change report

ican.network/gamechange


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


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


Mentoring

I CANUniversity Networks

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

“I CAN” Camps

?

I CAN Camps - Activities


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’


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


Promotion / Clothing


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


http://www.spectrospective.com.au/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYaB8YTZ2M

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


http://awegust.ican.network/

http://awegust.ican.network/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cr0ptsir7o



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

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


I CAN Network Awards

2014 Monash VC Social Inclusion Award

2015 ASPECT Awards

Damien Watson, 2014. Coles Community Hero Awardee.


I CAN Network Ambassadors

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

Chris and team, VAC 2014


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woy-XzC-UVs

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

http://bit.ly/Penny-TheAge-Aug14

http://bit.ly/Penny-TheAge-Aug14

‘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


My Journey to becoming an Assistant Lecturer


Prof Rita Jordan

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

Victorian Autism Conference, Aug 2014


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


When I was being bullied in lower secondary school …

Grandma gave me the “Real Gorgeous” book.


My 21st birthday collage – made by Grandma.

Perfect timing, Uncle David!

Photo collage,Made by Grandma


First independent holiday, November 2000Great Victorian Bike Ride

Apollo Bay lookout.

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


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.


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.


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.


3 August 2013 – first time bidding at auction success!

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


@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?


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

Email: [email protected]

https://twitter.com/I_CAN_Network



https://instagram.com/i_can_network/

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

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

https://www.facebook.com/theicannetwork

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

http://www.ican.network/

http://ican.network/contact

http://bit.ly/ICAN_Volunteer

http://bit.ly/ICAN_Volunteer

mailto:[email protected]

Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer

Presentations & Public Speaking

Transcript of Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer