Peer mentoring for autistic females
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Hi SWANs! My name is Lyndsay Macadam (she/they) - some of you will have 'met' me before at a webinar, through the employment project or seen my name popping up here on Conversations.![]()
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I've been working for SWAN for nearly 2 years now and have recently taken over the role of CEO which has been a huge honour and very important to me on a personal level to be working for an autistic-led organisation.![]()
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I have worked in the Charity sector since 2006, largely in Charity development, community development and equalities organisations and most recently was CEO of an LGBTQ Charity in Brighton, so I have a lot of experience to bring to the role, but what's most important to me is that it's the SWAN network which informs what SWAN is and does.![]()
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I'll be working to develop SWAN in line with our strategy and what you want from us as an organisation, putting things in place to support the staff team as SWAN grows and of course looking for funding to make sure we can do all the exciting things we want to do!![]()
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I'll also be thinking about how we can shout louder about who autistic women and non-binary people are, what SWAN does and the changes we want to see in the world, and representing SWAN and our autistic voices in everything I am doing.![]()
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On a personal level I've recently traded in years of thinking I enjoyed bustling cities to live in the middle of nowhere with my partner, a huge house plant collection, way more books than I have time to read, 2 cats, 6 chickens, a range of visiting woodland creatures, lots and lots of trees and absolutely no neighbours making noise - and I can highly recommend it! #ActuallyAutistic 😄🦢💙
There have been a few changes at SWAN recently and we're excited to introduce our new SWAN staff!![]()
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As many of you already know, Lyndsay Macadam recently took over the role of SWAN CEO, working with project staff and the Board of Trustees to develop the organisation and plan and deliver SWAN services.![]()
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Becky Choat has taken over Lyndsay's previous role as the new lead for our Increasing Understanding of Autism Project - delivering training, planning webinars, and supporting lots of other SWAN work.![]()
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And Mandy Williams is our brand-new Volunteer Coordinator - Mandy will be recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to a range of existing and exciting new volunteer roles at SWAN.![]()
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We'll run a special introductory webinar soon so you can meet everyone and hear about what's going on at SWAN.![]()
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In the meantime, they'll all be introducing themselves over the next few days so keep an eye out for their posts 💙🦢💙
For our next webinar on Thursday 12th May, we'll be joined by staff from the Scottish Government Autism and Learning Disabilities Team who will present their proposals for the Bill and ask us what we think. ![]()
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This is an important opportunity to drive the direction of their proposals and ensure they take our needs and opinions into account in their planning and they have aproached SWAN directly for our involvement as they are keen to hear our views on how the Bill will reflect the experiencs of autistic women. ![]()
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Book via Eventbrite 🦢
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International networking and information sharing - love it! Cat@SwanThe 40th episode of our Facebook Live talk show Let's Talk Inclusion will host Ms Pallavi Mallick, an inclusion leader from Dubai.![]()
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Pallavi is the Head of Inclusion at Al Ittihad Pvt School, Mamzar Dubai and has been in the field of special education for the last14 years. She is also a New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) visitor. A master’s degree holder of the University of Roehampton, London Pallavi's expertise lies in Early intervention, Dyslexia, Autism and various neurodevelopmental disorders. She is passionate about working with all age groups. Pallavi believes in removing barriers and has also developed a case study for Text Help Read & Write Gold. She has worked in the UK, the UAE and India so far.![]()
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Ms Manobina Chakraborty FRSA, Founder, I for inclusion will host the show. Join us for an engaging session on "Cognitive Differences and Inclusion" this Friday, 29 April 2022 at 7:30 pm - IST (2 pm - GMT).![]()
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See you there.![]()
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RSA Nessy UNICEF British Council Dubai Autism Center British Council Scottish Autism SWAN: Scottish Women's Autism Network ![]()
#neurodiversity #autism #dyslexia #autismawarenessmonth2022 #inclusion #inclusiveeducation
Dear colleagues, allies, and friends![]()
SWAN: Scottish Women’s Autism Network was founded in 2012 on the back of my PhD research. It was run on an entirely voluntary basis until 2019, when my employers at Scottish Autism arranged to have my permanent post with them seconded for 3 years, to work strategically to get SWAN onto a sustainable footing.![]()
Since then, I have focused on delivering and expanding our services, especially during the extraordinary circumstances that emerged through the pandemic, securing funding, recruiting staff and working with Scottish Government to help develop, and advocate for, the Improving Understanding of Autism campaign.![]()
I have - individually and with my colleagues - delivered training and workshops, consultancy, coaching and mentoring to hundreds and hundreds of people across the country (and beyond) and across sectors; we have run an autistic-led counselling service and regular webinars since early in 2020. Our brilliant and lovely volunteers continue to run meet-ups and activities online.![]()
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Lynn Reid started working for SWAN as a consultant early in 2020, then we were joined by Lyndsay Macadam Swan Scotland as a member of staff. We three have worked incredibly well as a team for 18 months and I feel very lucky to have been joined by such lovely and talented women. For the last year or so, we have been, as well as delivering on our funded projects, working on a succession and transitions plan.![]()
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My secondment comes to an end this summer. For a range of reasons, we’ve accelerated, by a couple of months, this plan, and Lyndsay is stepping up to the role of SWAN CEO as from 1st April. I won’t be ‘gone’ completely and will continue with my advisory and educational work, including to the Scottish Government Improving Understanding campaign and the Autism transformation and legislative strategies.![]()
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I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved in the 10 years since SWAN started in a room in Strathclyde University, 6 autistic women - including the wonderful Lynne Moffat who was my rock for 7 years - with a determination to change our world. I am grateful to all the autistic women - special mention Røny Casement, Perry Em, Tzipporah Johnston, and sorry if I've missed anyone out, I know there are so many of you - who since have given of their time, passion, good will, determination, to support other autistic women, and girls, and to push for social change. I am also grateful to all the allies and partners who have helped SWAN - and me personally - over the years.![]()
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Finally, I am so, so delighted to have been able to introduce Lyndsay Macadam to the autism world in Scotland and to be able to hand over to her now.![]()
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Catriona![]()
Dr Catriona Stewart OBE FRSA![]()
Founder SWAN: Scottish Women’s Autism Network
