Life with an “I CAN” Attitude:My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer
Penny Robinson, I CAN Network Ambassador@PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink
Today’s talk• I CAN Network
– How it started
– What it is & why it is needed
– The four “pillars” of I CAN
• My journey to becoming an Assistant Lecturer
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
“I CAN” Chief Enabling Officer
Chris Varney, TEDxMelbourne, May 2013https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1HQKB2txgY
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
What is the “I CAN” Network?Focus on strengths “I CAN”not deficits “I can’t”.
By the spectrum, for the spectrum.
Autism = AWEtism
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Why is “I CAN” needed?• Around 1 in 100 Australians are on the Autism Spectrum.
• 86% of students on the spectrum report facing ‘difficulty’ in schools
• 81% of people on the spectrum have NO post-school qualification
• 58% of people with Autism are not in employment.
Source: ABS Publication 4428.0 Autism in Australia, 2012
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
My perspectiveWhen I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome 18 years ago, I didn’t know anyone else on the spectrum, but I knew I was “different”.Almost 5 years after my diagnosis, I found out that someone I knew at uni also had Aspergers. I started jumping up and down in the campus centre at lunchtime! I was so excited to finally know someone else.The I CAN Network will allows to have what I didn’t have – know they are not alone during their schooling years.
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
The start of “I CAN”
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What contributes to “I CAN”?
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Game Change report
ican.network/gamechange
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
The Four Pillars of “I CAN”1. ‘I CAN Achieve’ – mentoring children, adolescents and
young adults on the spectrum2. ‘I CAN Enable, Not Label’ – building the capacity of
educators of young people on the spectrum3. ‘I CAN Create Change’ – advocacy that drives a rethink of
Autism, from ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I CAN’4. ‘I CAN Invest in Talent’ – talent development of young
people and fundraising for I CAN Network
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
1. ‘I CAN Achieve’Mentoring children, adolescents and young adults on the spectrum
2. ‘I CAN Enable, Not Label’Building the capacity of educators of young people on the spectrum
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Mentoring
I CANUniversity Networks
http://www.rupert.id.au/images/vic-sm.gif
“I CAN” Camps
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I CAN Camps - Activities
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Dress to Obsess “AWE ball”
I CAN SchoolsMarymede
Julia Wake, Head of Secondary School, Office door!
Simple things for sensory overload!
3. ‘I CAN Create Change’Advocacy that drives a rethink of Autism, from ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I CAN’
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Social media• Popular communication method for young adults!
• > 1,300 Facebook page “likes”
• > 1,200 Facebook group members
• #AWEtismRethink hashtag on Twitter
• Chris’s TEDx talk > 150k views on YouTube
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Promotion / Clothing
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
AMAZE (Autism Victoria) partnered with many other organisations including “I CAN” for “Spectrospective”.
They wanted to raise awareness of the different experiences of autism.www.spectrospective.com.auhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYaB8YTZ2M
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Website: http://awegust.ican.network/ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cr0ptsir7oPenny’s page: https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
4. ‘I CAN Invest in Talent’Talent development of young people and fundraising for I CAN Network
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
I CAN Network Awards
2014 Monash VC Social Inclusion Award
2015 ASPECT Awards
Damien Watson, 2014. Coles Community Hero Awardee.
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
I CAN Network Ambassadors
Tim Chan, TEDxMelbourne, Dec 2013https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woy-XzC-UVs
Chris and team, VAC 2014
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
http://bit.ly/Penny-TheAge-Aug14 12 Aug 2014
‘Penny’s attention to detail is an absolute strength in her job as a statistician as she will never rest until the numbers add up.Penny works to her strengths and our research group is the fortunate beneficiary of all these qualities.’
Prof Robin BellDeputy Director, Women’s Health Research Program,
Monash University
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15
My Journey to becoming an Assistant Lecturer
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
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https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
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Prof Rita Jordan
“The biggest gift you can give to people with autism is time.”
Victorian Autism Conference, Aug 2014
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
Aged 6 ½ weeks Grandpa reading “Don’t Forget, Matilda!” to me
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
When I was being bullied in lower secondary school …
Grandma gave me the “Real Gorgeous” book.
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
My 21st birthday collage – made by Grandma.
Perfect timing, Uncle David!
Photo collage,Made by Grandma
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First independent holiday, November 2000Great Victorian Bike Ride
Apollo Bay lookout.
First solo conference, July 2008Population Health Congress, Brisbane.
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
Grandma’s old house in Brighton
Independence starts here.• First sleepover as child.• Destination for solo bike rides.• Solo “P’s” car drive!• Dinner there, sleep alone at parents.
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
Grandma’s “Cartref”Granny flat at my parent’s.
“Changing the guard of independence”
• December 2005: Grandma cooked dinner for me, while parents away.
• 2011 – 2013: Grandma gave cooking advice to me while parents away.
• December 2014: I moved back for 2 weeks to look after Grandma while parents away.
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
Family dinner each evening – routine.
As younger sisters “grew up” this changed.Mum started putting out a meal for Grandma every night.My new routine = taking a dinner up to Grandma’s every night.
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
3 August 2013 – first time bidding at auction success!
Family support helped me buy my own place, 2 km away.
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
@I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink
@i_can_network (https://instagram.com/i_can_network/)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/6424991
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheICanNetwork/playlists
Page: https://www.facebook.com/theicannetwork
Group: www.facebook.com/groups/icannetwork.au
Any questions?
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny
Website: www.ican.network Contact Us: http://ican.network/contact Newsletter signup: eepurl.com/buf5DbVolunteer: http://bit.ly/ICAN_Volunteer
Email: [email protected]