Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer

Life with an “I CAN” Attitude:
My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer
Penny Robinson, I CAN Network Ambassador
@PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink

Today’s talk
• I CAN Network
– How it started
– What it is & why it is needed
– The four “pillars” of I CAN
• My journey to becoming an Assistant Lecturer
Twitter: @PennyRobaus @I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink #APAC_15

“I CAN” Chief Enabling Officer
Chris Varney, TEDxMelbourne, May 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1HQKB2txgY

What is the “I CAN” Network?
Focus on strengths “I CAN”
not deficits “I can’t”.
By the spectrum, for the spectrum.
Autism = AWEtism

Why is “I CAN” needed?
• Around 1 in 100 Australians are on the Autism Spectrum.
• 86% of students on the spectrum report facing ‘difficulty’ in schools
• 81% of people on the spectrum have NO post-school qualification
• 58% of people with Autism are not in employment.
Source: ABS Publication 4428.0 Autism in Australia, 2012

My perspective
When I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome 18 years ago, I didn’t
know anyone else on the spectrum, but I knew I was “different”.
Almost 5 years after my diagnosis, I found out that someone I knew at
uni also had Aspergers. I started jumping up and down in the campus
centre at lunchtime! I was so excited to finally know someone else.
The I CAN Network will allows to have what I didn’t have – know they
are not alone during their schooling years.

The start of “I CAN”

What contributes to “I CAN”?

Game Change
report
ican.network/gamechange

The Four Pillars of “I CAN”
1. ‘I CAN Achieve’ – mentoring children, adolescents and
young adults on the spectrum
2. ‘I CAN Enable, Not Label’ – building the capacity of
educators of young people on the spectrum
3. ‘I CAN Create Change’ – advocacy that drives a rethink of
Autism, from ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I CAN’
4. ‘I CAN Invest in Talent’ – talent development of young
people and fundraising for I CAN Network

1. ‘I CAN Achieve’
Mentoring children, adolescents and young
adults on the spectrum
2. ‘I CAN Enable, Not Label’
Building the capacity of educators of young
people on the spectrum

I CAN
University
Networks
http://www.rupert.id.au/images/vic-sm.gif

I CAN Camps - Activities

Dress to Obsess “AWE ball”

I CAN Schools
Marymede
Julia Wake, Head of Secondary School, Office door!

Simple things for sensory overload!

3. ‘I CAN Create Change’
Advocacy that drives a rethink of
Autism, from ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I CAN’

Social media
• Popular communication method for young adults!
• > 1,300 Facebook page “likes”
• > 1,200 Facebook group members
• #AWEtismRethink hashtag on Twitter
• Chris’s TEDx talk > 150k views on YouTube

Promotion / Clothing

AMAZE (Autism Victoria) partnered
with many other organisations
including “I CAN” for “Spectrospective”.
They wanted to raise awareness of the
different experiences of autism.
www.spectrospective.com.au
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYaB8YTZ2M

Website: http://awegust.ican.network/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cr0ptsir7o
Penny’s page: https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

4. ‘I CAN Invest in Talent’
Talent development of young people
and fundraising for I CAN Network

I CAN Network Awards
2014 Monash VC Social
Inclusion Award
2015 ASPECT Awards
Damien Watson, 2014. Coles Community Hero Awardee.

I CAN Network Ambassadors
Tim Chan, TEDxMelbourne, Dec 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woy-XzC-UVs
Chris and team, VAC 2014

http://bit.ly/Penny-TheAge-Aug14 12 Aug 2014

‘Penny’s attention to detail is an absolute
strength in her job as a statistician as she will
never rest until the numbers add up.
Penny works to her strengths and our research
group is the fortunate beneficiary of all these
qualities.’
Prof Robin Bell
Deputy Director, Women’s Health Research Program,
Monash University

My Journey to becoming an Assistant Lecturer
https://awegust.everydayhero.com/au/penny

Prof Rita Jordan
“The biggest gift you can give to
people with autism is time.”
Victorian Autism Conference, Aug 2014

Aged 6 ½ weeks Grandpa reading “Don’t Forget,
Matilda!” to me

When I was being bullied in
lower secondary school …
Grandma gave me the “Real
Gorgeous” book.

My 21st birthday collage
– made by Grandma.
Perfect timing, Uncle David!
Photo collage,
Made by Grandma

First independent holiday, November 2000
Great Victorian Bike Ride
Apollo Bay lookout.
First solo conference, July 2008
Population Health Congress, Brisbane.

Grandma’s old house in Brighton
Independence starts here.
• First sleepover as child.
• Destination for solo bike rides.
• Solo “P’s” car drive!
• Dinner there, sleep alone at parents.

Grandma’s “Cartref”
Granny flat at my parent’s.
“Changing the guard of independence”
• December 2005: Grandma cooked dinner for me, while parents away.
• 2011 – 2013: Grandma gave cooking advice to me while parents away.
• December 2014: I moved back for 2 weeks to look after Grandma while parents away.

Family dinner each evening – routine.
As younger sisters “grew up” this changed.
Mum started putting out a meal for Grandma every night.
My new routine = taking a dinner up to Grandma’s every night. 

3 August 2013 – first time bidding at auction success!
Family support helped me buy
my own place, 2 km away.

@I_CAN_Network #AWEtismRethink
@i_can_network (https://instagram.com/i_can_network/)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/6424991
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheICanNetwork/playlists
Page: https://www.facebook.com/theicannetwork
Group: www.facebook.com/groups/icannetwork.au
Any questions?
Website: www.ican.network
Contact Us: http://ican.network/contact
Newsletter signup: eepurl.com/buf5Db
Volunteer: http://bit.ly/ICAN_Volunteer
Email: penny@icannetwork.com.au

Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer

Similar to Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Life with an I CAN attitude: My journey to becoming Assistant Lecturer