Testimonials for the services provided by Autistic Girls Network

First hand reports of how our services have helped Autistic Girls, their schools or work places and their family & friends.

Testimonials for Face 2 Face Groups

She’s made new friendships and has found increased confidence through knowing other girls that are like minded.  Her overall wellbeing and ability to self advocate has improved.  She is proud of her identity and positive about being Autistic.

A very relaxed environment where they all feel comfortable

The group has been extremely positive for my daughter –  she gains an invaluable sense of community from being a member and always has great fun! The combination of activities on offer each session has helped develop her self-understanding and confidence, and enabled her to connect and build friendships with others.

I find it helpful that i can meet other autistic girls who can relate to my struggles. It is quiet and we can focus on doing creative things and learning about ourselves.

My daughter really enjoys going to her group – it is a very low demand, relaxed environment. I think she accepts being autistic more.

It helps me relax after a stressful day and helps me understand my feelings and emotions. The leaders are very accepting and kind.

…she had the best time 😊 I’ve never heard her talk about somewhere she’s been, in the way she did tonight…it was like she’d found her space. 🌟 She talked about how she was glad there were others who were braver than her, as it gave her confidence. She says everyone was lovely.❤️ I am SO happy, she just loved it.

Charlotte really loves these sessions and as a family we are very grateful to AGN for making them happen.

I wanted to take the opportunity of thanking you for creating this group. It is my daughter’s only lifeline! It’s really helping her slowly come to terms with her diagnosis. She couldn’t even say the word at first. It’s like autism has hit her all of a sudden so she keeps wanting things to be as they used to be. She has also made a best friend in the group which is helping her more than you know. Her self-esteem and self-worth has been dangerously low but is slowly improving.  So I just wanted to say a massive, heartfelt thanks.

I was able to persuade B to go to the group. It went exactly as I had hoped it would. It was eye-opening for her and for the first time she didn’t have to hide. She came away feeling like she isn’t the loneliest girl in the world. She was truly happy. Thank you for what you are doing.

Attending these groups has been phenomenally impactful for my daughter. At a critical point in her social development she has found a group of peers and adult guides to help her navigate the challenges she faces being an autistic person in society. I have watched her grow in confidence and more able to advocate for herself. She feels less isolated and exposed and is starting to understand her different ways of thinking in a more positive way.

In just 3 sessions, my daughter has made genuine connections and friendships. She feels able to be herself with other like minded girls. It’s a joy and relief as a parent to see there are friendships that can just be fun, without the complications she faces at school. These groups play an essential role in her emotional wellbeing, something we’ve been seeking for a while.

She loves it. It is so nice for her to have social opportunities where she feels understood and doesn’t have to mask or explain herself. They have improved her self esteem and Autistic identity.

My daughter enjoys the group very much, it is a safe space where she can be herself. Despite being one of the younger members she is always keen to attend. She has made friendships with older girls, she’s also learning from being with them.

It’s fun and there are lots of opportunities to do art. The adults really understand your needs

Attending these groups has been phenomenally impactful for my daughter. At a critical point in her social development she has found a group of peers and adult guides to help her navigate the challenges she faces being an autistic person in society. I have watched her grow in confidence and be more able to advocate for herself. She feels less isolated and exposed and is starting to understand her different ways of thinking in a more positive way.

L seems to be so much more settled since starting the group in February. She seems to be getting more comfortable again “in her own skin”, so to speak. We have noticed a change at home but yesterday she actually said to me “mum, you know that autistic girls group I’ve been going to? – I really didn’t want to go and I really didn’t think I’d like it. It sounded awful having to go to a group with a load of Autistic people. But I’m so glad I went. I’m really enjoying it. Everyone is so nice and friendly and just normal.” – she really looks forward to going, more than anything else I think, at the moment.I was so happy when she said that to me- I nearly cried! Thank you SO SO much for the difference you are making in the lives of these girls. You will never fully know the impact you’ve had on their lives.

I just wanted to say thank you for organising the 9-12 group. I actually unexpectedly burst into tears after dropping my daughter off at the group. It took me a minute to work out that it was happy tears of relief at seeing other mums and daughters coming into the group, and realising that E and I are not alone.  That face to face contact is so powerful. Most importantly, E enjoyed the session and wants to go again. She masks a fair bit at school etc, and I think the group will be so positive for her to accept and celebrate her autism. I feel very lucky to have spotted your Facebook post and got E a place. Thank you again!

Fantastic support for the girls!  Lovely activities in a safe space.  She looks forward to every session.

My daughter has made new friendships and has found increased confidence through knowing other girls that are like minded.  Her overall wellbeing and ability to self advocate has improved.  She is proud of her identity and positive about being Autistic.

My daughter really enjoys going to her group – it is a very low demand, relaxed environment. I think she accepts and embraces being autistic a little more.

I just want to say thank you for everything that you and the others do – C absolutely loves the group.

My daughter enjoys the group very much, it is a safe space where she can be herself. Despite being one of the younger members she is always keen to attend. She has made friendships with older girls, she’s also learning from being with them.

Testimonials Peer Support Groups

your thoughtfulness and care and noticing are, for me, what has made the group a safe space. I was surprised by me even attending such a group because I avoid any group situations but right from the beginning sharing photos and clear introduction made it something I gave a go and I am glad I did.

Adult Peer Support Group attendee

Attending the sessions was the first time in my 54 years of life, I felt validated.
I was diagnosed as autistic in my middle forties, after spending my whole life feeling I didn’t fit it with anyone or anything. I grew up feeling very bad about myself.Attending the sessions made me so happy, I cannot understate this. Meeting other women with shared life experiences as myself, gave me for the first time, a feeling of belonging, acceptance and understanding.So I am very grateful for this experience you provided. It was liberating for me. If only I had this support from a young age, my life could have been so different.So I’d like you to know the service you provided via the weekly sessions, has made a major positive impact upon me and my life. I can move forward feeling positive about my identity, and to finally be kinder to myself.

Jo, autistic woman

As a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD woman, I’m renewing how I see myself and my place in the world. After 40+ years of feeling a misfit, the peer support group has really helped me find my place.
A wonderful, small community, with no expectations to talk from the start made it a warm and welcoming place. Lydia’s lived experience offers a viewpoint from someone who is understanding and advocating themselves and where no question or comment is invalid.
I would recommend this group to anyone wondering about their autistic identity, wanting to learn more about themself or wanting to meet a group of people who understand. The power of this is not to be underestimated.

Catherine, Peer Support group attendee

Thank you so much for the sessions. They have truly helped me immensely, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join. The sessions were well-structured, inclusive, and provided a safe space for everyone. It was wonderful to meet and discuss with others the everyday experience of being autistic. We quickly became close, sharing stories, advice, and anecdotes. I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and would recommend them to anyone! They made me feel more included in the autistic community and helped me realise that my experiences are shared by others who understand. I cannot thank you enough for these sessions and the confidence and acceptance they have provided me.

Natasha, Peer Support group attendee

Testimonials for Post-Diagnostic Support Mentoring

A has thoroughly enjoyed her sessions with Heather and learnt so much during this time. It has given her the opportunity to talk openly about her feelings and understand why she feels the way she does in certain situations. It has also helped her recognise and accept some of her behaviours which has given her more confidence. We would thoroughly recommend to anyone who is given the chance to take part in the mentoring program to do so.

A, teen mentee

10/10 recommendation for this service. It has been an absolute game changer to our family. I do hope you continue to get the funding required to help other families like mine.

Hayley

K found it difficult to fully engage in the mentoring sessions due to anxiety. The mentor Olivia was great at adapting the sessions to take this into account. I was also able to attend and act as a voice for K and to help her to stick with it. Olivia used Jamboard really effectively to engage K in the sessions. This allowed K to go at her own pace and to respond in writing, verbally or through drawings. Olivia talked about her own experiences which was very helpful and made her relatable to K. Despite K not being in a position to fully engage in the process, this has been a most valuable experience and one we would wholeheartedly recommend to others.

Parent to K

Being able to discuss aspects of neurodivergence, guides/pictures/info graphs for aspects of executive functioning, being able to talk with a fellow AuDHDer, have all been very helpful. I now have a better understanding of aspects of executive functioning, my triggers/comforts, more understanding of neurodivergence, access to resources on this jamboard. If I could change anything I’d like more sessions, more time to discuss.

Parent to K

I can now understand and identify more of the problems, accept them and deal with them. Talking it through with someone who is autistic, on a level you understand it, is much more validating. Everything I’ve done so far has been with people who aren’t autistic and they have a list of traits and can see what it is but they don’t know how it feels.

A, teen mentee

Just a quick note to say thanks so much for the mentoring sessions – they were so helpful and great for starting more of a conversation with B around autism.
You have been so kind and patient, thoughtful and knowledgeable – we really appreciate you.

Claire, mum to autistic young person

My daughter is still very early in her autism acceptance journey and merely nodding an answer, gesturing or writing odd words, all off camera and silently, was her part in the ‘conversations’. However, with this I became thrilled. This was the most engaged my child had been with anything during her 9+ months of autistic burnout and inability to access school. Olivia’s gentle, empathetic approach enabled my daughter to hear from someone else’s lived experience a possible way of navigating difficult situations/environments. The ability to access the sessions at her own pace enabled her to feel safe enough that by the last session she was able to come partially on camera, co-produce a slide about her special interest and discuss its content. The ability to share the thing which brings her joy with someone who was genuinely interested brought her a lot of happiness. An obvious answer about what else could be done is that it could be for longer to enable the child and mentor to build up even more of a relationship and work on a deeper level. I also wonder if doing the ‘about me’ work earlier rather than at the end would have enabled a more two way communication sooner, however, this is with hind sight and of course may not have worked, indeed, my daughter may not have felt able to contribute at all earlier in the sessions. However, I am so appreciative that my child was able to access this service as there is nothing else of is kind available to us, she was discharged from CAMHS for not engaging and there is nothing else available. We have been left to find our own way through this by our LEA. The Autistic Girls Network, the Mentoring, Olivia and Cathy have been a huge source of support, information and Community and I cannot thank you all enough. I wish you all the very best with everything and please know, you are making an enormous difference.

L’s mum

Thank you so much for the mentoring. I think it’s so important to have something like this which is affirming and validating, as opposed to the ‘deficits’ approach of diagnosis. This feels like the beginning of the journey but having suggestions like reasonable adjustments to ask for at school and energy accounting has been really useful and practical-and not something that I have been able to access elsewhere.

My daughter has had 2 sessions with her mentor and has already found it extremely helpful.

I think this mentoring has been exactly what our daughter needs.

Testimonials for School Training

Today’s session was particularly useful for several reasons:
  • Confirmation that the reasonable adjustments we are making and the approach with talking through social misunderstandings is the right one.
  • I have gained some new ideas, e.g. autistic glimmers and new representations e.g. spiky not linear profile image to share / use in training.
  • New understanding of how Autism & ADHD having opposing needs and the difficulties this poses for those with a dual diagnosis, knowing about Alexithymia & rejection sensitive dysphoria as well as supportive approaches.
  • Making it clear to me that the next steps need to include a greater school community awareness of the differences experienced by neurodivergent children and supportive approaches that all people can apply.
Good session with lots of discussion points and how to support children and families better, in particular how all members of the school community can support neurodivergent students at breaks when some students may find transitions difficult
Teacher, testimonial from our PINS training

In many years of teaching I can’t remember any training on autism or neurodiversity like this. It has been amazing and we really appreciate the support.

Teacher, testimonial from our PINS training

I just wanted to thank you so much for the training today. It was really positively received, and I know many of the staff members were relating what you said to the children in their classes. A lot of food for thought.

Teacher, testimonial from our PINS training

The AGN training was enlightening. Not only were the myths exploded but there was such understanding from a lived experience perspective. Perhaps even more importantly, there were practical tips that have undoubtedly shifted my practice for the better.

Croydon teacher and senior leader

Meeting Cathy and working with her as an experienced SENCo to support my students has been one of the most pivotal moments in my career and life as a parent myself. Despite having an autistic daughter and us all having attended post diagnostic meetings and workshops within CAMHS, I have learnt more from Cathy in one parental session she led for our school and through attending her mentoring workshops for young students within my school than I have done in all my other experiences as a parent and teacher.

Claire Cockroft, SENCO Wycombe High School

School SENCos and Leaders should work with Cathy to make a difference to their environments that will enable our autistic students to attend, participate, achieve and flourish.
I am excited to be moving to an Additional Resource Provision (ASC) within a mainstream school and Cathy’s contact details are firmly stored away so that she can continue her work with me to enable my students to lead happy and fulfilling lives, supported by their parents, who also feel supported.

Claire Cockroft, SENCO Wycombe High School

As a school we have also invested in Cathy’s mentoring sessions so that students can learn more about their autistic identity, ultimately enabling them to thrive and advocate for themselves. Cathy prepares students in advance of sessions and ensures students feel comfortable to attend and communicate in any way that works for them. One of my Year 9 students told me, “I am finding the sessions helpful, and I would definitely recommend to others. I have learnt different breathing techniques that I didn’t know and when to use them- I also like the app that was recommended “MoleHill Mountain” it is helpful

Claire Cockroft, SENCO Wycombe High School

Testimonials for Parent Training

The presentation today was just fantastic, hearing someone appreciate and understand fully the challenges my daughter has, I cannot tell you how helpful that is

Parent, Wycombe High School
Thank you for setting up the call last night with Cathy Wassell, what an experienced lady in this area…such a wealth of knowledge to share and delivered in a way that I for one, hugely resonated with and learnt vast amounts from.
Parent, Wycombe High School

Testimonials for our Online Support

I just want to thank you for such a great group. I’ve found everyone to be so kind and helpful, a place I can ask for help without judgement and with complete understanding. Thank you.

Beth

What a wonderfully supportive group this is. It’s saving my sanity.

Claire

I love this non-judgemental, insightful and inspirational platform which encourages and informs and shares knowledge with parents/carers and professionals, whatever their neurotype. I am both and always appreciate that you can never know enough, and feel supported in this group.

Sam

Reading AGN’s white paper and the posts in their Facebook group are what made me realise that I too am autistic as well as my daughter, and I can see from the group that I am very much not alone in that!

Sarah

I have learned nearly everything I know about autism in girls from Autistic Girls Network over the past two years. It has been a lifeline for us and helped us make some of the best decisions we’ve ever made for our newly diagnosed teen daughter such as online schooling. I don’t know what I’d have done without it.

Caroline

AGN group is an online lifeline on a human scale for my two autistic teens and our whole family. Don’t know what we would have done without it.

Sheralee

I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for the incredible content you share. My daughter is autistic, and your posts have been incredibly useful and inspiring for us. I appreciate all the effort and dedication you put into supporting autistic girls and their families.

Yolanda

As an autistic woman, I find the group good at being balanced and supportive for autistic parents. That’s not something you can say about many groups.

Jess

Testimonials for Speakers

This has been enlightening, inspiring and informative. I didn’t think last year’s Virtual Autism Conference could be topped, but this has been (at the least) equally as brilliant.

Simply wonderful, emotive, inspiring and for a non autistic person, a deep learning experience that will change the way I work. Huge thanks to all involved and all the speakers. :)

This was a fantastic event that I hope will be shared far and wide. My child is autistic and this is the first time I’ve really felt I’ve understood what it’s like being autistic. All the speakers were amazingly honest about their experiences which will help so many people. Thank you so much to all involved in making this happen – I hope all SEN staff, teachers, doctors, nurses and anyone who has a friend or relative that is autistic gets to see it.

I am so inspired by being able to attend this conference.  It has opened my mind and way of thinking as a neurotypical person in a way that maybe would not have occurred if I had not attended this conference.

Fabulous and informative conference with amazing speakers

Testimonials from our Corporate Clients

I thought the session today was just fabulous!!

Learning and Development Manager, Manolo Blahnik

Testimonials for our White Paper

This is THE most helpful thing I’ve read. Having supported my daughter through all the assessments, it was these bulletted lists that described her so perfectly…

This is an amazing and useful resource, I have shared this among, colleagues and friends as soon as the conversation arises re our wonderful girls that may be struggling, thank you so much x