Join writer Clem Bastow, autistic activist Dr Jac den Houting and Chrissy Flanagan, founder of Chaotic Social – a club for adults looking to make friends...

Neurodivergence: Diagnosis Normal

Location:

Level 2, 400 George Street
2000 NSW
Australia

Venue:
Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre
Neurodivergence: Diagnosis Normal
Neurodivergence: Diagnosis Normal

Featuring

Clem Bastow

Clem Bastow

Clem Bastow's debut nonfiction book, Late Bloomer: How An Autism Diagnosis Changed My Life (Hardie Grant Books) was published in July 2021, and they have worked as a neurodiversity consultant for television. Clem’s writing appears regularly in The Guardian, and they have contributed chapters to books including Investigating Stranger Things (Palgrave MacMillan, 2021), ReFocus: The Films Of Elaine May (Edinburgh University Press, 2019) and CopyFight (NewSouth Publishing, 2015). Clem has written for TV shows including The Spooky Files (ABC/BBC, 2023) and RocKwiz (SBS, 2005-2011), and they co-wrote and co-presented the 2017 ABC podcast Behind The Belt, a documentary “deep dive” into professional wrestling. Clem is currently completing a PhD in action cinema and screenwriting at RMIT University. They live and work on Wurundjeri land in Naarm/Melbourne with their dog, Milly.

Sana Qadar

Sana Qadar

Sana Qadar is an award-winning podcaster and journalist whose work has featured on the ABC, BBC, SBS, Al Jazeera, and NPR to name a few. Sana hosts All in the Mind on ABC Radio National, which won a 2022 Australian Podcast Award for Best Health and Wellbeing pod. She also co-hosts the SBS podcast, Eyes on Gilead.

Event Details

Join writer Clem Bastow, autistic activist Dr Jac den Houting and Chrissy Flanagan, founder of Chaotic Social – a club for adults looking to make friends – as they discuss their experiences as neurodivergent people, from late in life diagnoses to encountering common misconceptions.

In the hilarious and heartbreaking Late Bloomer, Clem describes growing up feeling like she'd missed a key memo on human behaviour. She found the unspoken rules of social engagement confusing, relationships hard and the office even harder, but learning at age 36 that she has autism made everything click.

Proudly neurodivergent and queer, Jac is a research psychologist who is working to ensure autism research is conducted by and with those it is intended to serve. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Macquarie University, they are an emerging leader in autism research.

And Chrissy (who you may recognise as the ‘Sausage Queen’ from a former life) founded Chaotic Social after realising she wasn’t alone in her struggle to make friends as an adult. Diagnosed in recent years with autism, ADHD and prosopagnosia, as well as recently embracing her queerness, Chrissy uses her TikTok talents to educate and share her life.

With charm and wit, the trio, with moderator Sana Qadar (host of ABC's All in the Mind), will tackle misconceptions - especially around women and gender-diverse people, who often struggle to be diagnosed as neurodivergent - and explore how diagnosis has helped them make sense of themselves and their pasts.

This event is part of Vivid Ideas' Human Nature series. Challenge the 'natural' ways of thinking, and explore the emerging new normals across sex, relationships, body politics, travel and more.

Access and Inclusion

  • Auslan Interpreted Auslan Interpreted - Auslan interpreted events are for audiences who are Deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan) as their primary means of communication. Experienced Auslan theatre interpreters stand to the side of the stage and translate what the speakers are saying or Auslan signing the text and dialogue live. Audiences requiring this service are seated in the section closest to the interpreter to ensure good sightlines.
  • Companion Card Acceptance Companion Card Acceptance - The Companion Card is for people with a significant permanent disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.
  • Hearing Loop Hearing Loop - A hearing loop (sometimes called an audio induction loop) is a special type of sound system for use by people with hearing aids. The hearing loop provides a magnetic, wireless signal that is picked up by the hearing aid when it is set to 'T' (Telecoil) setting. Many venues have an induction hearing loop system. Check if your venue has this system.
  • Wheelchair Accessible Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.