Winner announced for World Autism Acceptance Month art competition
The winners of the North East Autism Society’s inaugural World Autism Acceptance Month art competition have been announced.
Creative group is a 'journey of self discovery' for young autistic activists
For County Durham mum-of-two Emma Sayer, having a place where her children can be themselves and express their creativity has been a lifeline in a society that often isn’t set up for them.
Emma’s children, Molly, 12, and Dennis, 9, are both diagnosed as autistic, and Emma herself is one of thousands on the waiting lists for assessment in the North East.
As part of the Autism Activists, a creative group for young people organized by the North East Autism Society (NEAS), Molly and Dennis have found a place to thrive.
But it has been a long road from the “long and drawn out” diagnosis pathway to finding a space where Molly and Dennis felt accepted.
“When we got the diagnosis they asked us how we felt about it, and then they gave us a bunch of different sheets with charities we could get in touch with and shoved us out the door,” Emma said.
She added: “It’s difficult, because we live in a society that’s set up for neurotypical people, not neurodivergent people, I think sometimes you can be made to feel like you’re the odd one out and you are different.
“We’ve always tried to be really positive. We don’t see it as a disability, we talk about the things they might struggle with, but we talk about why they might struggle with them.
“Their brains are different, but that’s not a bad thing.”
In the Autism Activists group, run by NEAS’s Family Development manager Kerrie Highcock, Molly and Dennis found a place where they could learn more, meet new friends, and share their experiences through creative work.
Emma said: “When Molly’s at school, and she’s around a lot of neurotypical people of her own age, I think she really struggles to feel like she fits in, and I think she’s at the age where she notices a difference now.
“Being in the activists group allows her to really feel like she fits in. She calls it her tribe, and she’s really able to be herself when she’s with her peers.”
For Dennis, who only recently received his diagnosis, the group is also a place to explore his own identity.
“For him, it’s a bit of a self-discovery journey,” Emma said. “Finding out what it means to be autistic.”
“They absolutely love going, they love Kerrie and they’re both really creative and love the hands-on element as well,” Emma added.
This is Dennis’ first year as part of the activists, while Molly has been involved in several projects now, including a series of animated videos which share insight into the young peoples’ experiences.
Currently, the group’s activities are linked to the Acceptance Project, organised by NEAS as part of World Autism Acceptance Month, which encourages people to use art to challenge misconceptions about autism and share messages of acceptance.
“I think the thing for me is that it’s so driven by the young people,” Emma said.
“It’s coming from them, it’s their words, it’s their artwork. It’s not someone else saying that this is what it’s like to be autistic, and I think that’s very powerful.”
As well as the group providing a space for autistic children and young people, Emma, who initially took an evening course on understanding autism to better support Molly after her diagnosis, has found a network of support from other parents of young activists.
“We have a really strong support network, which is really amazing. It’s really helped me a lot to find out I’m not on my own with things,” Emma said.
The activists group has been a positive space for Molly and Dennis, giving them a place to be creative, build a positive self-identity, and amplify their voices as autistic young people.
Emma said: “It’s something that’s been on the same wavelength as us. They’ve heard different people, who aren’t their parents, telling them that they’re amazing.
“I’m so proud of them.”
If you feel inspired by Molly and Dennis, and the other members of the Autism Activists group, you can take part in the Acceptance Project as well, by submitting your artwork before the 24th of April.
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