Autistic Girls Network

Who we are

AGN has been a registered charity since November 2021, although we have been supporting autistic individuals as an organisation since 2017. We take pride in being autistic and neurodivergent-led, aiming to co-produce all our services with our community. We frequently seek feedback and ideas from our Facebook group, where 66% of members are neurodivergent and another 16% are exploring whether they might be. Combined with our in-person groups, peer support groups, and mentees, this provides a robust foundation to develop and refine services that meet the needs and goals of our community.

Our vision is to empower, support and provide a community for autistic women, girls, and their families, advocating for the change necessary to build a world in which they can flourish on their own terms.

We will support autistic women, girls and their families by providing education, resources and community, helping them develop a positive sense of self.

We will achieve our vision by:

●      Promoting awareness, understanding and acceptance: Increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of autism in girls, women and non-binary people among the general public, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.

●      Providing Support Services: Offer a range of support services tailored to the unique needs of autistic girls, women and non-binary people, including mentoring programmes, age-specific groups, and peer support groups.

●      Celebrating Diversity: Celebrate the diversity within the autistic community and promote acceptance of all individuals regardless of their neurodiversity, gender identity, race, ethnicity, or other characteristics.

●      Addressing Intersectionality: Recognize and address the intersectional experiences of autistic girls, women and non-binary people, including those from marginalised backgrounds, and work towards creating equitable opportunities and support.

●      Empowerment through Education: Provide educational resources and workshops to empower autistic girls, women and non-binary people to understand their strengths, advocate for themselves, and navigate social and academic environments successfully.

●      Advocacy and Policy Change: Advocate for policies and practices that promote inclusion, accessibility, and acceptance for autistic individuals in schools, workplaces, and communities.

●      Community Building: Create a supportive and inclusive community for autistic girls, women and non-binary people to connect, share experiences, and build friendships in a safe and understanding environment.

●      Research and Knowledge Sharing: Support and engage in research initiatives focused on understanding the unique needs and experiences of autistic girls, women and non-binary people, and share findings to inform best practices and policies.

●      Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborate with other organisations, professionals, and advocates in the autism community to amplify voices, share resources, and work towards common goals of acceptance and inclusion.

●      Long-term Sustainability: Ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of Autistic Girls Network through effective fundraising, strategic planning, and organisational development initiatives.

Our culture and values

We will achieve our vision and our aims by demonstrating our core values of:

●      being Compassionate

○       We will focus on building compassionate communities of support for autistic women and girls

○       We will ensure our services are delivered compassionately

●      being Relational

○       We will acknowledge the interconnectedness of human nature and the important role that relationships play in our lives. We believe that all humans are meant to connect with others on an interpersonal and emotional level and that strong, fulfilling relationships help people maintain emotional well-being.

●      being Trusted

○       We will consistently deliver on our commitments to our service users and partners

●      being Reliable

○       We will ensure that we are a trusted partner and provider to our service users and partners

●      being Authentic

○       We commit to embracing and championing authenticity, valuing genuine expression and honest neurodivergent representation in all aspects of our work and relationships.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

As a neurodivergent-led charity we are well aware of the intersectionality and subsequent stigma and minority stress of all minorities. We oppose all forms of discrimination and strive for equity always.