Gabrielle Hogg - Living with ASD and the Biomedical Journey

I will be talking about how being on a Gluten and Casein Free diet has helped my health and how it has improved some of my ASD behaviours. I will also be touching on how Psychiatric medicines have not really helped me and explaining why the reasons are for this.

Gabrielle Hogg - Bio

Hi my name is Gabriel but I like to be called Gabby. It’s spelt the boy’s way because my Dad spelt my name wrong!

I will be 24 in November, and am a female with a formal diagnosis of High Functioning Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Depression.

I currently live in Napier, New Zealand and attend Earth Gardens (a day programme for those with disabilities or mental health issues) where I work in the cooking area. I am a volunteer leader at Friday Rock (for children aged 6 to 11 years) at The Napier Salvation Army. I help run an ASD/Adult Social Group in Hawkes’ Bay, and am part of an ASD forum in Hawke’s Bay called Kidz in the Mix. I am a part time Massey University extramurally student doing a BA in Psychology and a minor in Rehabilitation Studies. I am involved with ASD Kids Charitable Trust in Auckland, am a General Advocate for Asperger’s Syndrome New Zealand, and on the NZ Autism Expert Advisory Group.

I am currently in a flatting situation. My future goal is to set up a group home for woman with ASD in the Hawkes’ Bay area. In my spare time, I like to attend my church, spend time with my friends and family, and my special interest is reading and researching everything I can on ASDs and related disorders.

I have presented at various organisations including Autism NZ 2010 National Conference, Explore/Healthcare NZ (specialist support service), ASD Kids Charitable Trust Respite Weekends of parents/carers, Rainbow Umbrella Afterschool Care, Parent Support Group, Greenmeadows Primary School to staff, and 2010 SPELL Course.