Some of Our Parts

I CAN Network Resources to Help Young People with Executive Functioning Challenges

The I CAN Network have made available online a downloadable tip sheet, “Executive Functioning & Anxiety: Insights & Tips for Adults Who Support Autistic Young People“, which also contains tips for the classroom and home, along with recommended resources.

They have also included a complementary tip sheet, ‘Getting Things Done – Tips For Our Younger Autistic Peers’ which contains practical advice for young people (see below).

In addition to these Autistic-crafted tip sheets on Executive Functioning, I CAN Network also have an array of other tip sheets to support the wellbeing of Autistic young people including:

• Managing Overwhelm (Meltdowns, Shutdowns & Burnouts)
• Support for Autistic LGBTIQA+ Young People
• Nurturing Self-Esteem Pride In Autistic Young People and more

Key Insights to Helping People with Executive Functioning Challenges

• APPRECIATE THAT EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISN’T JUST PLANNING, ORGANISING AND TIME MANAGEMENT.

It also includes prioritisation, problem solving & flexible thinking, working memory, self awareness & self regulation, task initiation to task completion, attention and self advocacy. Many of us Autistic/Neurodivergent people find these things quite difficult.

• RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE & MINDSETS.

Often young people who have poor executive functioning skills are labelled disorganised, messy, resistant, underachievers, daydreamers, manipulative or disruptive. But they are really just young people who lack skills to be able to carry out certain functions without meaningful support and understanding.

• UNDERSTAND THAT ANXIETY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ARE INTERCONNECTED.

When your anxiety goes up, your executive functioning capability goes down and with it, your performance. This reduces your confidence and your motivation, which can create a downward spiral unless support is put in place. Reducing anxiety for your young person – through things like sensory accommodations and clarity around expectations, for instance – is central to supporting their executive functioning capability.

• BE THAT SAFE PERSON.

Your young person/student might feel confused, frustrated and embarrassed that everyone else around them seems to have solid executive functioning skills and they do not. You are more likely to be able to help if the young person trusts you, feels safe and does not think you’ll judge them.

• DEVELOP A COLLABORATIVE PLAN WITH YOUR YOUNG PERSON.

Work with your young person on a plan. Quick, simple changes that can be implemented every day are likely to be more effective than something that takes two weeks to learn, but the young person gives up before it becomes a habit. It should be a team effort, the young person doesn’t necessarily have to make all the changes. Start with what is getting in the way the most, or where the young person wants to start.

• CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT AUTISTIC & OTHER NEURODIVERGENT VOICES.

Executive functioning and its impact on daily living and sense of self are common themes among Autistic/Neurodivergent authors, bloggers and vloggers (see links embedded in the tip sheets below as examples). Seeking out these insights will not only help you understand and support your young person more effectively, it will help reassure your young person that they are not alone.

• Find out more about these resources and other helpful programs at I CAN Network online

Have You Been Diagnosed with ADHD in Adulthood?

There is a research project to better understand your experiences and the types of supports you want!

Researchers from the University of Canberra are looking for university students aged 18 and older who have been diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood.

This research seeks to discover the daily challenges of ADHD and how these challenges are being addressed in the university setting.

Dates and times for participating are flexible and involve 60- minute interviews with the researcher and the completion of a 5-minute survey both conducted online.

Participant Requirements

• Students who are 18 years or older
• Are currently attending an Australian university
• Been diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood by a health professional
• Speak English as a first language

Contact Information

If you meet the criteria and are willing to participate, please contact the email address: u3202854@uni.canberra.edu.au

• This project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Canberra (HREC – 11599)

Job Opportunity for Students: eExams Assistant

AUSLAN Interpreted Theatre Performance on Clayton Campus

Monash Uni Student Theatre (MUST) are thrilled to be presenting an AUSLAN interpreted performance on campus next month – Friday May 6 2022!

MUST are presenting the first full-scale Melbourne production of Kill Climate Deniers, a riotous black comedy by David Finnigan;

“…one of the most daring and important plays of the decade.” (Pleasance Theatre, UK).

Part action-movie, part documentary, part manic farce and part rave; KCD marries madcap satire with deeply urgent conversations about our future – all accompanied by a pumping techno soundtrack!

As Fleetwood Mac take to the stage in our nation’s capital, armed eco-terrorists storm the building and take the government hostage, threatening to kill them unless Australia ends climate change. Tonight!

Now beleaguered Environment Minister Gwen Malkin has no choice but to grab a gun and stand up for her ideals – one terrorist at a time.

• Directed by Yvonne Virsik
• Venue: The Alexander Theatre, 48 Exhibition Walk, Monash University, CLAYTON
• Season: May 5 – 7, AUSLAN interpreted performance May 6, 7.30pm
• Tickets ON SALE NOW: msa.monash.edu/kcd
• Run time: 90 minutes, no interval

Are You a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Performing Artist?

There is a call out for all scriptwriters, actors, directors, and theatre producers with the plan to put on a show in mid 2023.

Soundfair will assemble a creative team to write and produce an original piece of work that portrays the richness of Deaf and hard of hearing living experiences.

If you’re interested, get in touch at lourdes@soundfair.org.au.

AFL Includes Captions on Club Song

*From ABC News Online

The AFL (Australian Football League) has belatedly installed closed captions on team songs so deaf and hard of hearing barrackers can join in match day singalongs.

All grounds will display words on the big screens.

The improvement has come after years of advocacy.

AFL Disability Inclusion Manager Tim Nield said this was a step towards providing better coverage of the game for supporters.

“Coming to a game of AFL and being able to engage in the team’s club song, whether it’s been at the start of the game or at the end of the game, it’s sort of been an opportunity starved of the deaf and hard of hearing community,” Mr Nield said.

• Read the whole article on ABC NEWS