Katharine Annear - Working Side by Side: Systemic Advocacy and Asperger's Syndrome

An exploration of systemic advocacy across government and non-government sectors. Working in partnerships to change the system, from letter writing to working with committees, from campaigning to direct action, how can people with Asperger’s change a system that fails to meet our needs. Drawing on over 10 years experience with advocacy – an exploration of mistakes made and battles won. Asking the question, where to from here?

Katharine Annear - Bio

Katharine Annear was born in North Adelaide, in South Australia. She is a Developmental Educator, a lecturer, artist and writer. Katharine has Asperger’s Syndrome and uses her first hand experience to help people on the Autism Spectrum survive and thrive in today’s environments. She focuses on actively engaging people through 1:1 counselling, mentoring and self management support, and through innovative group work. Katharine has been involved in systems advocacy for many years and is currently Deputy Chair of the Minister’s Disability Advisory Council in South Australia, Co-Convener of Women With Disabilities South Australia, and a Director of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations. She has played many and varied roles in autism and Asperger advocacy in Australia.