Australia, Autism and Advocacy

[Guest guest]

Recently I received an email from a prominent Australian teacher, speaker and

sales person requesting that she be nominated as an Australian Hero in order to

appear on the Oprah show to raise awareness of Autism. She would like to show

autism in a positive light and demonstrate the way in which she is making a

difference. I believe that we have many Australian Autistics who go beyond the

boundaries expected of them in big ways and in small. They may be addressing

significant challenges at times and at other times they may be pushing the

boundaries of their achievements, but they are all promoting the diversity and

achievements of Autistics. They, in many different ways, represent Autism in a

positive way, working with their abilities and supporting their peers to do the

same. These are the representatives of Autism I want to see promoting positive

attitudes in society. I believe that Autistics who make a difference in their

own lives and in the lives of their peers are the best representatives of

Autism. While there are many Autistics who make a difference, each commensurate

with their own expression of autism, one person stands out in my mind.

Katharine Annear is an outstanding representative of Autism culture, community

and disability. It is Katharine, who would be a passionate representative of

Autism in Australia and the world. Katharine Annear makes a difference.

Katharine Annear is an Australian Hero and Katharine is the person who should

represent us on the Oprah Show.

What makes Katharine an Autistic Hero? Katharine offers an in depth

understanding of contemporary disability issues and a lived experience of

disability. She has highly developed communication skills both oral and written.

She has demonstrated a passion for a world perspective on disability and a

concern for regional issues confronting people with disabilities with a

particular cognisance of the issues facing women with disabilities in Australia

and our region. Katharine's knowledge and expertise crosses continents. For

example, she has represented Australia at the 5th Women's Institute on

Leadership and Disability (WILD) in Eugene, Oregon, USA, where she served as a

mentor, being an Aluminus of the 4th WILD program in 2008.

Her achievements speak for themselves, but you may ask how Katharine differs

from many prominent educators and speakers in our country? Not only does

Katharine hold deep beliefs about the rights of people with disabilities but she

puts her beliefs into practice in the most practical ways possible. She

currently serves on the Minister's Disability Advisory Council of South

Australia and the Board of Management of Autism SA. She is a Board member of

the Australian Federation of Disability Organizations and co-convener of Women

with Disabilities South Australia. Her roles have included developing quality

educational practice for students with autism spectrum disorder and

investigating the mental health of students with disabilities. Her high-level

skills in interpreting information such as policy and legislation, and in report

writing and scoping enable her to be proactive in promoting a rights based

approach to full citizenship for people with disabilities.

Katharine's talents are far reaching and are inclusive of a diverse group of

Autistics and their interests. Her passion for the power of Community Theatre

is well known, both in her home town and interstate. She has been a performer

and producer of theatre in the Gay and Lesbian Community and the Disability

Community. Her role in promoting South Australia's ground breaking Autistic

Theatre Company demonstrates her commitment to empowering Autistics to take

pride in their identities and to be recognized for their abilities.

Additionally, Katharine is also an avid writer and a published poet. Her poetry

explores relationships, politics and the land, while her academic writing

discusses disability culture, sexuality, autism and social minority groups.

Katharine Annear's achievements as an Autistic activist, a disability activist

and an Autistic empowering Autistics are formidable. She is the epitome, not of

someone who overcomes disability, but who lives with significant challenges, who

has developed supports which empower her to work with her abilities in promoting

the rights and opportunities to do the same at both a government and personal

level. Katharine Annear represents the reality of living with Autism every day,

in every way. To nominate her as an Australian Hero, visit:

https://www.oprah.com/ownshow/plug_form.html?plug_id=6004470

Join me in ensuring that Autistics represent Autism.

Nothing about us, without us.