ABOUT US
What Autistic Girls Network is aiming to achieve is recognition from the professionals, whether medical or educational.
We aim to rally for support and raise the profile of female Autism. We hope with us all working together we can affect change. We can sign post you to support networks and are already in discussion with recognised professionals who feel this is needed. This is a national problem and feel we are stronger as one voice.
Even specialist ASC provision are often taking girls without adapting to their very different needs and vulnerability. We feel local Authorities have a duty to provide environments that are suitable for girls, that reflect their needs and allow them to achieve the best educational outcomes.
Cathy Wassell
Cathy took over the helm of the Autistic Girls Network in late 2019. She runs her own businesses from home and is mum to 2 autistic teens, both late diagnosed. Cathy’s daughter Freya was diagnosed at 13 amid a massive mental health crisis and it’s Freya’s story which led Cathy to FIGS.
Mandy Chivers
Mandy was the founder of FIGS which became Autistic Girls Network – she’s no longer involved but we didn’t want her to go without a mention!
Mandy is a mum of 6 with the 3 youngest being autistic. It took her 7 years to get a formal diagnosis for one of her daughters and only 3 years for her son, with many exclusions and different schools along the way, which is what led to FIGS.
THE TEAM
AGN’s team is a mix of parents and Autistic adults with experience and passion.
Our ethos is about celebrating autistic girls’ many gifts and talents – not to change them but to support them. We want the world to recognise our amazing girls!
Lindsay Anderson
I’m Lindsay and I have a 15 year old beautiful autistic daughter called Poppy. She was diagnosed age 12. She was given an EHC plan in her 2nd year of high school.
At the end of that 2nd year we began homeschooling Poppy as her anxiety and mental health were extremely low and the main stream school were not meeting her needs.
Vicki May
I’m a parent of 2 teens, and our youngest was diagnosed aged 13 having flown under the radar throughout school. My involvement with AGN began at the groups inception back at the start of 2018. I’m astonished that so many autistic girls are missed or misdiagnosed, and angry at the devastation which occurs when a lack of understanding of autistic of presentation goes unchallenged. I’ve also realised that my own neurology is likely to include ADHD – I may pursue a diagnosis at some point. In real life, I work in data/systems at a University.