April 25, 2025 • 25 mins
Everyone has a slightly different experience of finding Autistic identity. Lucy describes some of her experience that many of us will recognise.
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(00:03):
We speak our words, we listen,we speak our words, we listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (00:18):
Hello again, and thank you for joining us again.
As you know, Lucy is one of ourregular contributors here and
we started a conversation withher about her advocacy work.
Are you ready to tellus the inside of that?
Now Lucy?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (00:36):
Absolutely.
Looking forward to this part.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (00:39):
We heard that you out a professional who.
They had seen your communicationskills and they were pushing you
forward, pushing you to say, will you,will you come and speak to a group?
How did you feel about that?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (01:01):
Both intimidated and really excited.
Obviously standing up in front of agroup of people, whether it be big
or small, it doesn't matter, takes
I what's do
how things.
(01:23):
But then again, you know,it's very exciting because
I've got so much experience.
My whole life has been an experienceof neurodiversity, right from
when I was born with my father.
And I thought, I've got so many stories.
I've got so much that I keep in my head.
So this is an opportunity for me toboth educate others and to find a put.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (01:50):
Like when you are invited by the professions to
have a space where you can speak out.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (02:02):
Set of people and a new environment
where I need to speak.
I'm very aware of my surroundings andthat physically there is adaptation you
have to make there and you have to reallythink through what this is gonna look
like, how you are gonna speak to them.
You can't really do any pre-preparation.
(02:22):
I, I.
Trying to be prepared sometimes is awaste of time because it's the unexpected
stuff that you've gotta deal with.
You know, I've got my pattern, I canreel off all my life experiences,
but my idea is interaction.
It's not just me giving a speech.
It's an interactive experience.
So there are lots of faces.
(02:44):
There are a lot of different voicesthat are gonna be coming at me,
and I think the term is good.
Your loins and screw yourcourage to the sticking place.
I think that Shakespeare and justsay, whatever happens here, it's fine.
I could do well here, I coulddo badly here, it's fine.
You know, I'm not gonna comeout of this feeling bad.
I'm gonna be,
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (03:04):
everything I'm hearing here sounds like a challenge.
Everything I'm hearing.
Mask with you and having tonegotiate how much of the real Lucy
is on show and how much you arecoping with everything around you.
(03:26):
It feels restricting to me.
It feels as though you were thrown into asituation where you had to use all of the
life skills that you've learned so far,and not everyone's gonna be up for that.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (03:38):
You know, the first time I walked into a situation I
was actually during, in a, in a trainingsession and everybody was going around the
table and they were introducing themselvesone by one and I was part of that as well.
And I hate doing that bit where they say,some tell us something about yourself.
And I came up, stood up, and Idid know what to say and I just
(03:58):
went, hello, I'm your show pony.
You know, I'm, I'm gonna be the personthat who's going to just kind of show
you the way And it is always a challenge.
Yeah, it's always a challenge,but I need challenge.
I need it.
I spent a lot of time, my timebefore this, just sitting with
this, keeping my own council.
So it, it's, its now a thing whereI can go into and do it myself.
(04:26):
Treat me and speak to me.
I don't mind, buteverything is a challenge.
Everything is energy, and everythingis, is just being able to just
breathe and get through it.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (04:37):
Yeah.
I'm hoping here that when you advocateon autistic radio, it's a, a simpler and
an easier, less stressful circumstance.
I, I go out and givepresentations in front of.
And my experience of the two isthat I would far better, far prefer
(04:59):
to be here, but to be an advocate.
Sometimes you are forced intothese non-autistic spaces and
it is, like you say, a show thatyou are putting on, a performance
that you are putting on because.
(05:22):
The majority of us managed toadvocate in those circumstances.
You seem special.
I'm going to the text and a question here.
Is advocacy going out from asafe space or is it a retreat?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (05:40):
It's coming out of a safe space for me.
You know, I'm, I'm going out.
Suddenly, I'm not surrounded byfamiliarity and I'm not being, I'm
not doing my usual daily routine.
It's a break.
I'm coming outta my space into the world.
Yeah, I feel quite exposed.
(06:01):
I'm out there, but I'm learningto live with that a little bit.
Whatever happens from this point out,I can't always have complete agency.
I don't know what's gonna be out there.
I've gotta just do this.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com: The same person has texted. (06:17):
undefined
So advocacy as a thriving structure, notnecessarily as a job, advocacy is not your
job, but do you see it as part of thrivingwithin your own autistic identity?
Is that the place it takes for you?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked: It's a really difficult one. (06:40):
undefined
This is not my job.
It's always like a thing Ido because I, I, I need to be
out there and share all this.
I, I'm performing, I'm learning.
I, I'm finding myself in this as well.
So a lot of this maybe is, is a bitof building my own ego, building
my own confidence, building myown strength, and knowing I don't,
Jules-AutisticRadio.com: and they responded. (07:04):
undefined
And job is in capitals.
Another texter says that they,when feeling a bit stressed, public
speaking, they always use humorto lift attention in the room.
I heard you saying to them right at thebeginning that you were the show pony.
So did that get a laugh andthen ease things and move on?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (07:27):
Yeah.
Uh, it's true.
If you could be a bit humorousand lighthearted about it
and go, I know why I'm here.
You've, you've invitedme here for a reason.
I'm not sitting in a room ofnon-autistic people and answering
questions for any other reason.
I am the show pony.
I'm the, Hey, come on.
I, we all know, we knowwhat my role is here.
(07:49):
Be now asking difficultabout my autism and.
I, I like to be a show offin these situations and be.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (08:09):
I don't get the sense that you
are being self-deprecating here.
I know that a lot of autisticpeople to make a joke often
almost turn it on themselvesand say, well, that would be me.
You know, I would catalogeverything in alphabetical order.
You can now laugh at my autism.
And then we'll feel that the, thetension has been relaxed and I, I
(08:30):
remember seeing one of the comedians who.
They said that they had decided thatit was very important for them not to
be self-deprecating about their autismand not to use that kind of humor
that they had to ensure that they wereputting out a strength and a positivity
(08:54):
and not going for the easy joke.
Does that figure in what.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (09:01):
Yeah, I understand that there is little
bit of self-deprecation in that,that, you know, it's about making
the space comfortable, isn't it?
The big thing is that they dunnowhat they're gonna say to me.
I dunno what they're gonna say.
You know, I dunno what they're gonna say.
So maybe a little bit ofself-deprecation is handy.
Where we can get the, the levelin the room from being just people
(09:23):
staring at you to people actuallywanting to join in with you.
I don't wanna come across as cold orunapproachable, so the best way to do
it is to find a place where we can havethat little bit of, okay, it's fine.
We're all gonna be fine here.
It's not that serious,this is just discussion.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (09:39):
And a here is saying this is very stimulating this.
They visualize you, Lucy, as having acreative need through her life and through
her experiences and education that youare now expressing through advocacy.
(10:04):
So advocacy for you is an artform that you're developing
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (10:10):
it.
I've always been like that.
It's, it's, it's having a, a wayof expressing yourself expression.
Self-expression is really important.
Being able to kind of make your mark andyou, you need to, I think that's, there's
a little bit of that in all us people.
(10:31):
I think we're creativethinkers and we, we think.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (10:41):
You've just been agreed within the text and with many
in the community, somebody texts there.
So let's get down to the nitty gritty.
Our contribution throughyou is this art of advocacy.
How does it fall?
What happened over the period?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (11:03):
My first experiences were tentative and grounded
within a quite an autistic friendly space.
I was then invited to goforward a little bit further.
The same person who actually put mein touch with the council as an expert
by experience also got in touch.
(11:25):
To find somebody to help thembring the message of autistic
people into the wider world.
So I was given an opportunity to bepart of a group where I was gonna be
consulting and helping and shaping theirown, the way that they're gonna portray.
They wanted to put together a health a.
(11:53):
So I sat down with them and I toldthem my story and I explained to them
that I'm always looking for chancesto push forward and speak to people,
and that I've got a lot to tell.
And they invited me then into their group,and I've been working with this particular
group now for about three or four months.
We've done a lot of things together.
And I feel like I, every time I gothere and I speak to, it feels really
(12:16):
nice to, to be part of a group.
It's nice and structuredfor me, which is fantastic.
I can sit there, I, and if they wannapick my brains, I'm there for it.
And I feel really open there.
Now it's, it every time I, I gothere, I, I feel like I can speak.
Climax now where end this project.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (12:38):
So has been this group, you built a confidence
and a comfortability with the group.
Where did it lead from there?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (12:47):
I guess it was a testing ground to start with.
Meetings in the evening andwe, we, we discussed it all.
Now, their target and their,their mission really was to get
the autism acceptance month part.
They work in women's health.
That's what the group I I work with do.
So they were try and be part of the byof, you know, something information.
(13:17):
And so that's where what we were.
Now that came to fruition, obviouslyat the beginning of this month when
we put together all our resources.
I had written some pieces on misdiagnosis.
I'd written some pieces on my story.
I'm happy for my image to beused and my words to be used,
and then we built together.
(13:38):
A little stage for us in a librarynear my home where we could put
together our literature and try andtalk to the general public people who
are just using the, the library andfind a little community hub for us.
That's where we were going with this.
Now that has been done when I.They were putting together a talk.
(14:01):
Now there are a couple of autistic womenwithin this group, and they, they did
their own talk and I came along to that.
But through that opportunity, I foundthat there was also a film crew that
had been asked to come along and maybedocument some of this for local news.
And I wasn't really prepared for that,but I was asked by the lady that was
(14:24):
organizing everything, if I wouldn'tmind, just ad hoc going in, sitting down
and being interviewed for the television.
Now, you know, I, I was a little bitabout that because it's, I, I, you know,
having a camera pointed at you and.
(14:45):
That was fine.
I discussed how we're now, I feelthat we're now in a place where we can
have discussions about neurodiversity.
We can have discussions aboutautistic people through this month.
I know it's not everybody's cup of tea,but it is raising awareness and being able
to say that we're open to conversationand we're open to speak to, to the world
(15:08):
about, about who we and what we and how.
So that was great.
I did get that done, which was aticket, a box for me because I wasn't
expecting to be able to cope, but I did.
And then after that, I found myselfinterviewed for local newspapers as well,
having to find words for everything.
I found it a challenge, but I,it's not too much of a challenge.
(15:30):
Uh, once I get going, I'm fine.
But from there on out, I also spoketo some of the general public I,
I was on this stall with a bigphoto of myself behind me, so
conversations with real people.
Having a first real kind of interactionwith an autistic woman, and I felt
(15:52):
that, you know, being autistic iskind of like being seen as a minority
and being an autistic woman is kindof a little subsection of that.
So I was really pleased that whenpeople coming up and asking me
questions, just being curious about me.
You know, and I say about the showpony thing, but it's a little bit
like that, but it's just nice.
I just felt really good that I washaving a genuine conversation with
(16:15):
somebody who was very interested in whatthis Euro diversity thing was about.
And at the moment I'm still withthis group and we are looking
to push it further, do more.
Now they can learn more.
I can teach them more
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (16:28):
so the.
As what autism is, closed down, silent,locked up, inability to communicate.
The story here is about a person who,with their autistic compensations,
(16:55):
is managing to advocate for theautistic population in a way that's
relatable to the general public.
In the format the general public wantsin person, in front of an audience,
being interviewed by newspapers,speaking to the television, all of the
(17:16):
things that the majority of autisticpeople would find overwhelming.
The story is to say that yes, there areexamples of the autistic population that
can adapt themselves, have learned throughtheir lives, have accumulated skills.
And be advocates in the format, inthe format that is requested of them.
(17:41):
But the rest of us,maybe that's not for us.
The rest of us, we have toadvocate in different ways.
Is there a sense in which youare being picked out because of
your abilities and be the loss ofthe rest of the voices because.
(18:03):
They don't get other people who would beuncomfortable with this whole scenario.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (18:10):
That's a really interesting question.
I've gotta say.
Yeah, it's just, it's avery interesting question.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (18:17):
All the skills that you have described fit the model
that the general population want.
Television, interviews,newspapers standing up in front.
In front audience interacting with thepublic on in the library on a stall.
(18:40):
And that's a self-select, that's agroup of one, that's a, that's Lucy.
And the majority of autistic peoplehaven't got those accumulated
skills that make that possible.
So how do we avoid.
The rest of the autisticpopulation from being missed out.
(19:00):
How do we, as the vocal peoplemanage to bring forward the rest
of the population's experience inthese formats that are inappropriate
generally for autistic people?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (19:14):
Yeah.
Okay.
That is a very good.
Where I'm representing.
(19:36):
In, in terms of being able to communicatein these complex and difficult ways,
and it all comes from the fact that myupbringing was with a father who autistic,
who would make himself uncomfortableall the time in order to into the world.
So I know that I am unusual.
(19:57):
In the sense that I can say,yeah, I'm happy to be in
front of a television camera.
Yes, I'm okay to be on the radio.
Yes, I'll do this.
I, I say, yes, and I do it becausethat's a challenge to myself.
But I do point out that Ihave these skills because I've
taught myself these skills.
(20:17):
They're not in everybody, and theycertainly wanted me to begin with, but.
But what I am is a representation ofeverybody around me, all the autistic
people I meet, you know, all of thepeople that I'm, I'm kind of mixing with
in these, like on stores and things.
I like to remind them of thatthere are so many people who will
(20:42):
not do this, who cannot acceptwhat, you know, being out public.
No.
So what I'm doing is, is is somethingthat's a bit different, that's a, a
little bit more complicated than theusual autistic experience because I
push myself into difficult places.
(21:03):
Always mentioning that push,always having to say, this is not
always comfortable for me, but I'm
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (21:13):
normally, I.
In this case, I'm going to goto the text because I think it's
quite an important place to leaveour conversation together today.
The texter says it's strange how inclusioncan itself seem to create exclusion and
(21:38):
maybe vice versa, and they say that you.
Those worlds.
You can hear Lucy here on autisticradio regularly in the 4 4 4 drop
in recordings, and also occasionallyin the 5, 5, 5 Spectrum Voices.
(22:04):
Harry's Facebook conversations if youhave a version of advocacy that you
speak.
A way that we can cooperate with you tohave your advocacy put out through, and
(22:27):
thank you.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (22:29):
Thank.
Autistic radio is about us.
It's for us, and it's from us.
Autistic Radio is about you.
It's for you, and it can be from you.
We have every single Sunday dropin four, four 4:00 PM every Sunday.
(22:58):
That's not live.
That's us getting together,us talking community.
Every Sunday, Harry leads a fivefive 5:00 PM a discussion around
the Facebook page that he creates.
Involve yourself by suggestingwhat we should talk about next.
(23:21):
Share it with Harry and.
The bigger picture, advocate, use us.
Speak to the world, your project,your idea, your enthusiasm.
We have a whole range of differentprograms that will fit what you want.
(23:45):
As far as listening goes, there'ssome challenging stuff out there.
Because amongst the identity, theentertainment, and the community,
we also make serious programs withautism professionals challenging
(24:06):
their ideas and bringing whatyou say in other spaces to them.
A lot of those are difficult listens,but it's a holistic gathering.
It comes all together.
Autistic radio is very varied.
(24:28):
We need a favor to encourage us.
We need you to share us.
When you share us.
You give autistic people power.
When you share us, you makeus impossible to ignore.
When you repost on LinkedIn and Facebookand anywhere else, you are advocating
(24:55):
for everybody in the autistic community.
So pick the things that you arehappy with and get them out there.
So thank you, thank you, thankyou, thank you from all of us.
We speak our words, we listen,we speak our words, we listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (00:18):
Hello again, and thank you for joining us again.
As you know, Lucy is one of ourregular contributors here and
we started a conversation withher about her advocacy work.
Are you ready to tellus the inside of that?
Now Lucy?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (00:36):
Absolutely.
Looking forward to this part.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (00:39):
We heard that you out a professional who.
They had seen your communicationskills and they were pushing you
forward, pushing you to say, will you,will you come and speak to a group?
How did you feel about that?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (01:01):
Both intimidated and really excited.
Obviously standing up in front of agroup of people, whether it be big
or small, it doesn't matter, takes
I what's do
how things.
(01:23):
But then again, you know,it's very exciting because
I've got so much experience.
My whole life has been an experienceof neurodiversity, right from
when I was born with my father.
And I thought, I've got so many stories.
I've got so much that I keep in my head.
So this is an opportunity for me toboth educate others and to find a put.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (01:50):
Like when you are invited by the professions to
have a space where you can speak out.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (02:02):
Set of people and a new environment
where I need to speak.
I'm very aware of my surroundings andthat physically there is adaptation you
have to make there and you have to reallythink through what this is gonna look
like, how you are gonna speak to them.
You can't really do any pre-preparation.
(02:22):
I, I.
Trying to be prepared sometimes is awaste of time because it's the unexpected
stuff that you've gotta deal with.
You know, I've got my pattern, I canreel off all my life experiences,
but my idea is interaction.
It's not just me giving a speech.
It's an interactive experience.
So there are lots of faces.
(02:44):
There are a lot of different voicesthat are gonna be coming at me,
and I think the term is good.
Your loins and screw yourcourage to the sticking place.
I think that Shakespeare and justsay, whatever happens here, it's fine.
I could do well here, I coulddo badly here, it's fine.
You know, I'm not gonna comeout of this feeling bad.
I'm gonna be,
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (03:04):
everything I'm hearing here sounds like a challenge.
Everything I'm hearing.
Mask with you and having tonegotiate how much of the real Lucy
is on show and how much you arecoping with everything around you.
(03:26):
It feels restricting to me.
It feels as though you were thrown into asituation where you had to use all of the
life skills that you've learned so far,and not everyone's gonna be up for that.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (03:38):
You know, the first time I walked into a situation I
was actually during, in a, in a trainingsession and everybody was going around the
table and they were introducing themselvesone by one and I was part of that as well.
And I hate doing that bit where they say,some tell us something about yourself.
And I came up, stood up, and Idid know what to say and I just
(03:58):
went, hello, I'm your show pony.
You know, I'm, I'm gonna be the personthat who's going to just kind of show
you the way And it is always a challenge.
Yeah, it's always a challenge,but I need challenge.
I need it.
I spent a lot of time, my timebefore this, just sitting with
this, keeping my own council.
So it, it's, its now a thing whereI can go into and do it myself.
(04:26):
Treat me and speak to me.
I don't mind, buteverything is a challenge.
Everything is energy, and everythingis, is just being able to just
breathe and get through it.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (04:37):
Yeah.
I'm hoping here that when you advocateon autistic radio, it's a, a simpler and
an easier, less stressful circumstance.
I, I go out and givepresentations in front of.
And my experience of the two isthat I would far better, far prefer
(04:59):
to be here, but to be an advocate.
Sometimes you are forced intothese non-autistic spaces and
it is, like you say, a show thatyou are putting on, a performance
that you are putting on because.
(05:22):
The majority of us managed toadvocate in those circumstances.
You seem special.
I'm going to the text and a question here.
Is advocacy going out from asafe space or is it a retreat?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (05:40):
It's coming out of a safe space for me.
You know, I'm, I'm going out.
Suddenly, I'm not surrounded byfamiliarity and I'm not being, I'm
not doing my usual daily routine.
It's a break.
I'm coming outta my space into the world.
Yeah, I feel quite exposed.
(06:01):
I'm out there, but I'm learningto live with that a little bit.
Whatever happens from this point out,I can't always have complete agency.
I don't know what's gonna be out there.
I've gotta just do this.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com: The same person has texted. (06:17):
undefined
So advocacy as a thriving structure, notnecessarily as a job, advocacy is not your
job, but do you see it as part of thrivingwithin your own autistic identity?
Is that the place it takes for you?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked: It's a really difficult one. (06:40):
undefined
This is not my job.
It's always like a thing Ido because I, I, I need to be
out there and share all this.
I, I'm performing, I'm learning.
I, I'm finding myself in this as well.
So a lot of this maybe is, is a bitof building my own ego, building
my own confidence, building myown strength, and knowing I don't,
Jules-AutisticRadio.com: and they responded. (07:04):
undefined
And job is in capitals.
Another texter says that they,when feeling a bit stressed, public
speaking, they always use humorto lift attention in the room.
I heard you saying to them right at thebeginning that you were the show pony.
So did that get a laugh andthen ease things and move on?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (07:27):
Yeah.
Uh, it's true.
If you could be a bit humorousand lighthearted about it
and go, I know why I'm here.
You've, you've invitedme here for a reason.
I'm not sitting in a room ofnon-autistic people and answering
questions for any other reason.
I am the show pony.
I'm the, Hey, come on.
I, we all know, we knowwhat my role is here.
(07:49):
Be now asking difficultabout my autism and.
I, I like to be a show offin these situations and be.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (08:09):
I don't get the sense that you
are being self-deprecating here.
I know that a lot of autisticpeople to make a joke often
almost turn it on themselvesand say, well, that would be me.
You know, I would catalogeverything in alphabetical order.
You can now laugh at my autism.
And then we'll feel that the, thetension has been relaxed and I, I
(08:30):
remember seeing one of the comedians who.
They said that they had decided thatit was very important for them not to
be self-deprecating about their autismand not to use that kind of humor
that they had to ensure that they wereputting out a strength and a positivity
(08:54):
and not going for the easy joke.
Does that figure in what.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (09:01):
Yeah, I understand that there is little
bit of self-deprecation in that,that, you know, it's about making
the space comfortable, isn't it?
The big thing is that they dunnowhat they're gonna say to me.
I dunno what they're gonna say.
You know, I dunno what they're gonna say.
So maybe a little bit ofself-deprecation is handy.
Where we can get the, the levelin the room from being just people
(09:23):
staring at you to people actuallywanting to join in with you.
I don't wanna come across as cold orunapproachable, so the best way to do
it is to find a place where we can havethat little bit of, okay, it's fine.
We're all gonna be fine here.
It's not that serious,this is just discussion.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (09:39):
And a here is saying this is very stimulating this.
They visualize you, Lucy, as having acreative need through her life and through
her experiences and education that youare now expressing through advocacy.
(10:04):
So advocacy for you is an artform that you're developing
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (10:10):
it.
I've always been like that.
It's, it's, it's having a, a wayof expressing yourself expression.
Self-expression is really important.
Being able to kind of make your mark andyou, you need to, I think that's, there's
a little bit of that in all us people.
(10:31):
I think we're creativethinkers and we, we think.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (10:41):
You've just been agreed within the text and with many
in the community, somebody texts there.
So let's get down to the nitty gritty.
Our contribution throughyou is this art of advocacy.
How does it fall?
What happened over the period?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (11:03):
My first experiences were tentative and grounded
within a quite an autistic friendly space.
I was then invited to goforward a little bit further.
The same person who actually put mein touch with the council as an expert
by experience also got in touch.
(11:25):
To find somebody to help thembring the message of autistic
people into the wider world.
So I was given an opportunity to bepart of a group where I was gonna be
consulting and helping and shaping theirown, the way that they're gonna portray.
They wanted to put together a health a.
(11:53):
So I sat down with them and I toldthem my story and I explained to them
that I'm always looking for chancesto push forward and speak to people,
and that I've got a lot to tell.
And they invited me then into their group,and I've been working with this particular
group now for about three or four months.
We've done a lot of things together.
And I feel like I, every time I gothere and I speak to, it feels really
(12:16):
nice to, to be part of a group.
It's nice and structuredfor me, which is fantastic.
I can sit there, I, and if they wannapick my brains, I'm there for it.
And I feel really open there.
Now it's, it every time I, I gothere, I, I feel like I can speak.
Climax now where end this project.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (12:38):
So has been this group, you built a confidence
and a comfortability with the group.
Where did it lead from there?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (12:47):
I guess it was a testing ground to start with.
Meetings in the evening andwe, we, we discussed it all.
Now, their target and their,their mission really was to get
the autism acceptance month part.
They work in women's health.
That's what the group I I work with do.
So they were try and be part of the byof, you know, something information.
(13:17):
And so that's where what we were.
Now that came to fruition, obviouslyat the beginning of this month when
we put together all our resources.
I had written some pieces on misdiagnosis.
I'd written some pieces on my story.
I'm happy for my image to beused and my words to be used,
and then we built together.
(13:38):
A little stage for us in a librarynear my home where we could put
together our literature and try andtalk to the general public people who
are just using the, the library andfind a little community hub for us.
That's where we were going with this.
Now that has been done when I.They were putting together a talk.
(14:01):
Now there are a couple of autistic womenwithin this group, and they, they did
their own talk and I came along to that.
But through that opportunity, I foundthat there was also a film crew that
had been asked to come along and maybedocument some of this for local news.
And I wasn't really prepared for that,but I was asked by the lady that was
(14:24):
organizing everything, if I wouldn'tmind, just ad hoc going in, sitting down
and being interviewed for the television.
Now, you know, I, I was a little bitabout that because it's, I, I, you know,
having a camera pointed at you and.
(14:45):
That was fine.
I discussed how we're now, I feelthat we're now in a place where we can
have discussions about neurodiversity.
We can have discussions aboutautistic people through this month.
I know it's not everybody's cup of tea,but it is raising awareness and being able
to say that we're open to conversationand we're open to speak to, to the world
(15:08):
about, about who we and what we and how.
So that was great.
I did get that done, which was aticket, a box for me because I wasn't
expecting to be able to cope, but I did.
And then after that, I found myselfinterviewed for local newspapers as well,
having to find words for everything.
I found it a challenge, but I,it's not too much of a challenge.
(15:30):
Uh, once I get going, I'm fine.
But from there on out, I also spoketo some of the general public I,
I was on this stall with a bigphoto of myself behind me, so
conversations with real people.
Having a first real kind of interactionwith an autistic woman, and I felt
(15:52):
that, you know, being autistic iskind of like being seen as a minority
and being an autistic woman is kindof a little subsection of that.
So I was really pleased that whenpeople coming up and asking me
questions, just being curious about me.
You know, and I say about the showpony thing, but it's a little bit
like that, but it's just nice.
I just felt really good that I washaving a genuine conversation with
(16:15):
somebody who was very interested in whatthis Euro diversity thing was about.
And at the moment I'm still withthis group and we are looking
to push it further, do more.
Now they can learn more.
I can teach them more
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (16:28):
so the.
As what autism is, closed down, silent,locked up, inability to communicate.
The story here is about a person who,with their autistic compensations,
(16:55):
is managing to advocate for theautistic population in a way that's
relatable to the general public.
In the format the general public wantsin person, in front of an audience,
being interviewed by newspapers,speaking to the television, all of the
(17:16):
things that the majority of autisticpeople would find overwhelming.
The story is to say that yes, there areexamples of the autistic population that
can adapt themselves, have learned throughtheir lives, have accumulated skills.
And be advocates in the format, inthe format that is requested of them.
(17:41):
But the rest of us,maybe that's not for us.
The rest of us, we have toadvocate in different ways.
Is there a sense in which youare being picked out because of
your abilities and be the loss ofthe rest of the voices because.
(18:03):
They don't get other people who would beuncomfortable with this whole scenario.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (18:10):
That's a really interesting question.
I've gotta say.
Yeah, it's just, it's avery interesting question.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (18:17):
All the skills that you have described fit the model
that the general population want.
Television, interviews,newspapers standing up in front.
In front audience interacting with thepublic on in the library on a stall.
(18:40):
And that's a self-select, that's agroup of one, that's a, that's Lucy.
And the majority of autistic peoplehaven't got those accumulated
skills that make that possible.
So how do we avoid.
The rest of the autisticpopulation from being missed out.
(19:00):
How do we, as the vocal peoplemanage to bring forward the rest
of the population's experience inthese formats that are inappropriate
generally for autistic people?
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (19:14):
Yeah.
Okay.
That is a very good.
Where I'm representing.
(19:36):
In, in terms of being able to communicatein these complex and difficult ways,
and it all comes from the fact that myupbringing was with a father who autistic,
who would make himself uncomfortableall the time in order to into the world.
So I know that I am unusual.
(19:57):
In the sense that I can say,yeah, I'm happy to be in
front of a television camera.
Yes, I'm okay to be on the radio.
Yes, I'll do this.
I, I say, yes, and I do it becausethat's a challenge to myself.
But I do point out that Ihave these skills because I've
taught myself these skills.
(20:17):
They're not in everybody, and theycertainly wanted me to begin with, but.
But what I am is a representation ofeverybody around me, all the autistic
people I meet, you know, all of thepeople that I'm, I'm kind of mixing with
in these, like on stores and things.
I like to remind them of thatthere are so many people who will
(20:42):
not do this, who cannot acceptwhat, you know, being out public.
No.
So what I'm doing is, is is somethingthat's a bit different, that's a, a
little bit more complicated than theusual autistic experience because I
push myself into difficult places.
(21:03):
Always mentioning that push,always having to say, this is not
always comfortable for me, but I'm
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (21:13):
normally, I.
In this case, I'm going to goto the text because I think it's
quite an important place to leaveour conversation together today.
The texter says it's strange how inclusioncan itself seem to create exclusion and
(21:38):
maybe vice versa, and they say that you.
Those worlds.
You can hear Lucy here on autisticradio regularly in the 4 4 4 drop
in recordings, and also occasionallyin the 5, 5, 5 Spectrum Voices.
(22:04):
Harry's Facebook conversations if youhave a version of advocacy that you
speak.
A way that we can cooperate with you tohave your advocacy put out through, and
(22:27):
thank you.
Lucy-Dawson-Autie-Unmasked (22:29):
Thank.
Autistic radio is about us.
It's for us, and it's from us.
Autistic Radio is about you.
It's for you, and it can be from you.
We have every single Sunday dropin four, four 4:00 PM every Sunday.
(22:58):
That's not live.
That's us getting together,us talking community.
Every Sunday, Harry leads a fivefive 5:00 PM a discussion around
the Facebook page that he creates.
Involve yourself by suggestingwhat we should talk about next.
(23:21):
Share it with Harry and.
The bigger picture, advocate, use us.
Speak to the world, your project,your idea, your enthusiasm.
We have a whole range of differentprograms that will fit what you want.
(23:45):
As far as listening goes, there'ssome challenging stuff out there.
Because amongst the identity, theentertainment, and the community,
we also make serious programs withautism professionals challenging
(24:06):
their ideas and bringing whatyou say in other spaces to them.
A lot of those are difficult listens,but it's a holistic gathering.
It comes all together.
Autistic radio is very varied.
(24:28):
We need a favor to encourage us.
We need you to share us.
When you share us.
You give autistic people power.
When you share us, you makeus impossible to ignore.
When you repost on LinkedIn and Facebookand anywhere else, you are advocating
(24:55):
for everybody in the autistic community.
So pick the things that you arehappy with and get them out there.
So thank you, thank you, thankyou, thank you from all of us.
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