The Yellow Ladybugs conference was an extraordinary opportunity to learn about nurturing, empowering, and affirming autistic girls and gender-diverse youth! Here are some of my key learnings:

• Em Hammond, autistic SLP and creator of NeuroWild , unpacking assumptions and attitudes about autistic children and Neurowild shift: I see you, I hear you, I got you

• Kelly Mahler, occupational therapist, sharing her essential guide to interoception and wisdom that "Your inner experience is always correct and valid and you're so deserving of having at least one safe human in your life who validates your inner experience. I think that is a human right for all of us.”

• Autistic students advocating for real inclusion, which focuses on well-being, presuming competence, interest-based and diverse ways of participating in learning and school life, and promoting agency and self-determination, which benefits EVERYONE

• Sarah Gurrin, autistic educational and developmental psychologist and teacher, illustrating how small things matter in creating a neuro-affirming and supportive learning environment

• Self-advocates illuminating the importance of protecting autistic joy, respecting fluctuating capacity, and committing to meeting everyone where they are

Thank you to Yellow Ladybugs for this autistic-led and neuro-affirming learning and connecting experience!

Learn more about Yellow Ladybugs and find amazing resources at www.yellowladybugs.com.au

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Rebecca A. Weiner, M.Ed. is a dynamic educator and creator of Learn Play Grow Educational Consulting. She supports transformational growth for young children with diverse abilities and their families, teachers, and schools through play-based learning, parent and teacher coaching, consulting in schools, and neurodiversity-affirming inclusion support in early childhood programs.