My name is Jen.
I was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum when I was 37 years old in 2011.
Since 2017, I have been involved with the autistic and autism communities in many different ways.
I have experience of being unemployed for periods of time, and also I've been underemployed.
The unemployment and underemployment rates are high for people with disabilities and are even higher for autistic people.
I have two bachelor degrees, yet due to me not being able to find work within my fields of study, using my degrees, I worked in a supermarket, on the check-outs for 15 and a half years.
The work was not stimulating or rewarding and at times affected my mental health.
For me, hopefully the strategy will make employment for autistic people easier and amongst other things, will play a part in driving down the unemployment and the underemployment rates for autistic people.
Hopefully a lot more autistic people will find work that is satisfying and rewarding and is also in accordance with their skill sets, knowledge and interests.
I think that the National Autism Strategy will increase awareness of autism and make autistic people more visible.
Hopefully this strategy will improve the lives and well-being of autistic people greatly.
I think that the strategy will make a huge positive difference in the lives of autistic people
in many different ways.
I think that it is important that as many people as possible should contribute to the development of a National Autism Strategy.
So the National Autism Strategy will make life for autistic people better in many ways around Australia.
The strategy is being co-designed, which is imperative to the success of the development of the strategy.
I know from experience that co-design and input from autistic people is pivotal in order to make change.
All autistic voices hopefully will be heard and considered.
Please contribute to the development of a National Autism Strategy wherever you can.
The more autistic voices are heard and listened to, the better.