In this session we look at autism from an autistic perspective and ensure primary caregivers are empowered with a double empathetic understanding of and appreciation for the way in which their autistic loved one experiences the world. This session will benefit both caregivers just beginning their journey and those further along.

Bio

Sharon McCarthy (P.G.AS., H.DIP.FIDS., DIP.AS., C.ADV.,C.CPTS.) is a professional who has worked in the autism field in a number of capacities for over twenty years. She is both a qualified advocate and a childcare professional and she also holds a number of autism and disability specific qualifications. At a national level, Sharon is adjunct course author and lecturer of the autism module under the revised National Framework for SNA Training, conducted through UCD and in collaboration with the NCSE. She delivers a number of autism specific training workshops to different disability and training services across the country. She also coordinates the autism centric courses in her local community college, the Cork College of Commerce. She is founding director of Autism Journeys Training and Consultancy service where she supports autistic children and young people and their families from both an advocacy and educational standpoint.

Sharon has spoken at different public events in relation to autism including the IASLT Autism and Neurodiversity Special Interest Group (SIG) annual conference in 2019 and as part of the National Carers Coffee Morning Initiative in 2020. She more recently presented at the Bright Start Foundation and North Carolina Centre for Exceptional Children conferences. She is the mind behind, and presenter of Autism Journeys Radio Show and Podcasts, a show centred on gaining the perspectives and telling the stories of figures in the autism community. She prides herself on the eclectic mix of information in the many podcasts now available on SoundCloud, Spotify and YouTube which are currently listened to in 27 countries around the world.

Sharon is also parent to multiply identified autistic children for more than 25 years and is based in rural Cork, Ireland.

Publications - Supporting Autonomy: Visual Strategies to Set the Autistic Child up for Success (ISBN – 978-183837879).

Autism Journeys Radio Show and Podcasts links:

1. SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/user-83407875

2. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4wyCjWADNvBPdXkRp39SNo?si=K-3HK3lVS0WwurgsP0shjw