Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash
'Autistic Burnout' describes periods of chronic physical and/or mental exhaustion, reduced tolerance to stressors, and can include the loss of communication and/or life skills. Join us as we bring together leading self-advocates and researchers who will share their experiences, explain the latest scientific research, and provide strategies for dealing with this distressing experience.
About the Speakers
Sylvère Moulanier
As a passion, he has been building racing sailboats professionally in Brittany, and building and renovating homes, which has been at times a profession too.
Dora Raymaker
Dora Raymaker, Ph.D., is a systems scientist and Research Assistant Professor at Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute for Human Services in the School of Social Work, Co-director of the Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (aaspire.org), and associate editor of the academic journal Autism in Adulthood. Dr. Raymaker’s research interests include community-engaged practice, systems thinking, measurement, disability, and the dynamics at the intersection of science and society. Dr. Raymaker conducts intervention services research in collaboration with the Autistic and mental health communities to improve employment outcomes and reduce discrimination and stigma. In their remaining three minutes of time, they enjoy writing fiction and making multimedia art.
SF Walker
SF Walker is an autistic self-advocate and is the Manager of the Voices of Autism (VOA), a group created to advise the Pacific Autism Family Network. She has an extensive teaching background and has worked with students of all ages and skill levels. In addition to her role with VOA, SF also works with AIDE Canada and helps to create self-advocate programs, increase access to resources across Canada, and develop course content for online learning. She has a team of advisors from across British Columbia who help to define and determine the best methods for affecting positive change in our communities.
Fakhri Shafai
Fakhri Shafai, Ph.D., M.Ed., is the Research and Evaluation Project Coordinator for AIDE Canada. She has been working with persons on the spectrum and their families for more than 18 years. Dr. Shafai first worked as a behavioural specialist, educational aide, and then science teacher before earning her Master’s in Education where she focused on the best practices for delivering biology content to autistic adolescents. She then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia where she focused on visual processing differences in autistic adults. Her postdoctoral research at Western University focused on multisensory processing differences, anxiety, and emotion recognition in autistic children and adults. Dr. Shafai is passionate about providing knowledge translation opportunities for stakeholders and has given numerous presentations to autistic individuals, caregivers, clinicians, and educators across Canada.
Kieran Rose
Kieran Rose is an Autistic parent, published Author and international Public Speaker, whose essaysat www.theautisticadvocate.com have been read by over 1.5 million people. He provides Consultancy for Autism-related organisations across the world; is founder of a international network for professional Autistic Advocates; Board member of the Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, an international educational organisation for OTs and SLPs; and Neurodivergence Educator for STAR Institute for Sensory Processing, a US-based OT charity. Kieran has recently published a co-authored paper on Autistic Masking, has a research paper on Autistic Masking in publication; and is currently co-producing research into other areas including Victimisation; and Monotropism and Autistic Identity. He has lectured at Universities across the UK; and is an external PHD supervisor for Durham University.