Dimensions

New Year, fresh ideas: Dimensions Autism Summit 2022

Sarah
autism friendly libraries campaign image - child reading book in library

In February we welcomed social care, autism, autistic and other experts to discuss some of the pressing issues in the autism sector for 2022. We will publish thought papers about each topic, to help progress thinking on how society can become more inclusive for autistic people.

Hosted online, on Friday 4th February 2022, the Dimensions Autism Summit explored a number of key topics and invited participants to share their experience and expertise in a workshop format.

Key topics included…

Follow #DimensionsAS22 and @DimensionsUK across all major social media platforms to stay up to date.

If you would like to discuss the topics covered in the Dimensions Autism Summit 2022 or register your interest to receive a copy of the thought papers, please email marketing@dimensions-uk.org

Watch the event

Chapters and timeframes

Meet our speakers

Our speakers introduced delegates to the topics and everyone had the opportunity to join them in one of the breakout sessions.

Keynote speech by Barbara Keeley MP

Barbara Keeley MP was first elected as the Labour Member of Parliament for the Worsley Constituency in May 2005. She is a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, having been Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for Social Care and Mental Health from 2017 to 2020. Prior to this, she held a number of other front bench roles in the Health, Local Government and Treasury shadow teams. Before becoming an MP she was an adviser to a national charity for carers and co-wrote three national reports on carers’ issues. In Parliament she continues to campaign for improvements in health and social care.

 

Welcome speech by Steve Scown

As Chief Executive of Dimensions and a former Chair of the Voluntary Organisations for the Disabled Group (VODG), Steve is a leading advocate for the rights of people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs.

 

Changing how we think and speak about autism

Dr Jeremy Tudway

Dr Jeremy Tudway is a Chartered Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and the Clinical Director for Dimensions, leading an integrated clinical team to develop the positive ways we provide to people we support.

He is a professional psychologist working with people with autism, learning disabilities and complex mental health difficulties since the early 1990’s. Jeremy has been actively involved in training and research, written professional psychology papers for journals, and co-authored a book on integrating psychotherapies.

 

Michelle Rebello-Tindall

Michelle Rebello-Tindall is an autistic speaker, illustrator, Autism Ambassador and founder of support group Autism Adventures Minecraft and Meltdowns. She is the Involvement and Engagement Coordinator for Dimensions. Michelle is also an illustrator for Jessica Kingsley Publishers with 2 published books

She advises Hampshire Police, Southampton Children’s Services, Monkey World, Brain in Hand assistive technology, The Autism Plan, Adhara Autism Trust and Access Advisr. She campaigned with autism campaigner Deborah Brownson MBE in Parliament as part of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Autism (APPGA), which achieved compulsory autism training for teachers.

Autism policy and practice

Duncan Bell

Duncan Bell has spent 8 years as the Head of External Communications at Dimensions, with responsibility for Dimensions’ public profile and campaigning work amongst much else. He has a particular interest in the Transforming Care agenda, in working well with families and in tackling workforce issues in social care.

 

Susan Kirkman

Susan Kirkman is a member of groups including LEDER, the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board, Sheffield Autism Board and (formerly) the National Valuing Families Forum. As a current member of the National Autism Board, she has been closely involved in devising the National Autism Strategy. Susan is passionate about families getting good support and clear information, and campaigns tirelessly to keep people informed. Her son is supported by Dimensions in Sheffield.

 

Tackling hate crime and abuse

Dr Mark Brookes MBE

Dr Mark Brookes MBE has worked with Dimensions for 11 years. While working with the Public Affairs team, he has led on Dimensions #ImWithSam campaign against learning disability and autism hate crime. Together with Dimensions CEO Steve Scown he launched Dimensions #ImWithSam campaign on BBC Breakfast.

In 2018 Mark was named a national Learning Disability and Autism Leader, in 2019 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Kent and in 2020 he was awarded an MBE.

 

Max J Green

Max J Green is a well-known actor who has been in shows like Holby City and Doctors. Other than that he is a successful Producer, YouTuber, Full-time IT professional, Autistic Public Speaker and Charity Fundraiser.

In addition to being an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, Wrestling Travel, The Diana Awards and an Autism Expert Panellist Member for Dimensions UK, Max is also one of our proud winner of The Coronavirus Learning Disability Autism Leader of the Year 2020 and a Diana Award Recipient in 2021.

 

Dimensions autism friendly environments

Sarah Walters

Sarah Walters has worked in the third sector since the age of 15. She is a Journalism graduate and started working at Dimensions in the Marketing team 9 years ago before becoming Campaigns Manager in 2018.

Sarah is in charge of communications for Dimensions campaigns, such as health and hate crime, annual Dimensions Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List which celebrates the achievements of people with learning disabilities and autism and also Dimensions Autism Friendly Environments, which partners with major cinema chains, independent cinemas, libraries and museums to provide autism friendly guidance and training.

 

Logan Rebello

Logan Rebello is a high performing graduate of Creative Media Production. Skilled in film making, sound design, editing, animation and storyboarding, his efforts with Dimensions won multiple national awards for making significant changes to Autism Friendly Cinema.

Winner of the Autism Leader’s List 2018 Logan has volunteered at Dimensions for a number or years and now works as a professional consultant and a content creator for the organisation. Some of his projects include his video work with #MyGPandMe and his animation work with Communications and Technology. Along with his Vyond animations, Logan can also animate in traditional hand drawn 2D from his time training with famous Disney animator Aaron Blaise.

Says Logan, “I hope to see a future one day where accessible changes will just be a given. Relaxed cinema screenings will be just as common as a wheelchair ramp.”

Register your interest

If you would like to receive a copy of the thought papers published from the discussions held at this event, please email us on marketing@dimensions-uk.org

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