Autism Matters offers autism awareness courses and talks as well as onsite training for therapists and employers. I also offer individual consultations for those wishing to discuss autism related issues privately.This site also has a blog about autism related subjects and have collected made available a wide range of resources.
I am Caroline Hearst and I have personal as well as professional experience of how much autism matters. Identifying that I am autistic as an adult was an epiphany. For the first time, after a lifetime struggling to make sense of the many inconsistencies in my life, I was able to understand myself and my relationships in a way that made complete sense. Meeting other autistic people gave me a community where I could feel totally at home. I was teaching adults and working in a mental health service at the time so I devised interactive training courses and set up Autism Matters to spread autism awareness.
Official figures suggest 1.1% of the population is autistic (I think it’s more than that).
If you work, play or have a family you are very likely to know some autistic people, you might even be autistic yourself (most autistic adults are undiagnosed) and understanding these people (or yourself) would be helpful for you. It is particularly relevant if you are a counsellor or therapist (many autistic people experience challenges and it is difficult to help them without understanding autism) an employer (you may have highly skilled staff who would work more effectively if some relatively minor accommodations were made) or wonder why you or a family member is finding life so difficult (autism might be the answer).
Please explore this website and get in touch if you want any more information about the work of Autism Matters.
I am Caroline Hearst and I have personal as well as professional experience of how much autism matters. Identifying that I am autistic as an adult was an epiphany. For the first time, after a lifetime struggling to make sense of the many inconsistencies in my life, I was able to understand myself and my relationships in a way that made complete sense. Meeting other autistic people gave me a community where I could feel totally at home. I was teaching adults and working in a mental health service at the time so I devised interactive training courses and set up Autism Matters to spread autism awareness.
Official figures suggest 1.1% of the population is autistic (I think it’s more than that).
If you work, play or have a family you are very likely to know some autistic people, you might even be autistic yourself (most autistic adults are undiagnosed) and understanding these people (or yourself) would be helpful for you. It is particularly relevant if you are a counsellor or therapist (many autistic people experience challenges and it is difficult to help them without understanding autism) an employer (you may have highly skilled staff who would work more effectively if some relatively minor accommodations were made) or wonder why you or a family member is finding life so difficult (autism might be the answer).
Please explore this website and get in touch if you want any more information about the work of Autism Matters.
Feedback
"Caroline knows her stuff and delivers it with passion and humour"
Counsellor
"I found Caroline's training good quality, challenging, and providing plenty of food for thought. Caroline is hugely knowledgeable, and grounded in the experience of being on the spectrum herself. I gained a lot from the experience."
Kate Stonehouse, Family Support Team Leader.
“It was very informative and I found the experiential component particularly interesting inconveying some experience of issues facing autistic people. It also helped to really highlight the diversity that exists between autistic individuals.
I found the mixed group worked really well for me offering a diverse range of experience and perspective. I learnt from autistic members of the group why eye contact can be avoided during social interaction in order to maintain focus on the conversation – additionally how much I rely on non-verbal cues in conversation.”
“I found the mix of participants very helpful. The day flew by and I found it very interesting and thought provoking”
Therapist
“Very interesting, lots of examples to which I could relate. Very useful to talk to others, both similar to my situation and counsellors/parents. It is useful to pick up that one can go through life and not even suspect autism, until a problem or series of problems highlights particular traits “
“Thank you for a very interesting day on Saturday. For me, I think the most beneficial thing was the quotes from autistic individuals. The more of these accounts I hear, the more I find to identify with and the more accepting I can be of my autism.”
Autistic Adults
“I like the mix of the group. Especially adult autistics to know that a young child can live a normal life”
"Many thanks for the excellent day on Saturday. I came away so hopeful for my son and encouraged for the seemingly increasing numbers of autistic people who are having to live in a (currently) NT-dominated world. The key has to be understanding and you have definitely moved me – and others on the course too I am sure – on. So a big thank you!"
Parents
