Online Girls Connect - for parent/carers of girls with autism June 2023

Girls Connect support group - for parent/carers of girls with autism spectrum conditions or on the social communication pathway or who may be on the spectrum.

Our Girls Connect group meets either at our sessions at the Crossways Centre on occasional Friday mornings or online via Zoom. We have found that offering these sessions via Zoom works for many parents, so we will continue with this.

We are delighted to welcome Helen Eaton (Autism Trainer) as our next Girls Connect guest speaker. Helen will speak about "Parenting and Caring for Autistic Girls" covering a range of topics including anxiety, masking, puberty, social anxiety, relationships (family & friends) and the school day. She will also join us for a Q&A session and group chat afterwards.

Helen is a parent of three Neurodivergent teenagers. Her work ranges from supporting families and schools, through to 'Neurodiversity in the Workplace' training for leading businesses and public sector organisations. She is also the author of the 'Arna and Ruby' graphic novels, is a guest speaker at NAS conferences and on the Michael Rosen’s BBC Word of Mouth (radio show)."

This group aims to support parents & carers of autistic girls, girls on the spectrum or on a social communication pathway. Girls who have autism can manifest the condition differently to boys. They may "mask" it and therefore are often later diagnosed . The support group has been set up so that parents / carers of girls can share experiences, ideas, support and strategies.

Girls Connect is an information sharing forum for parents of autistic girls who live primarily, but not exclusively, in the South West London area. The group is also open to older autistic girls / young women.

The forum was founded in June 2015 by volunteers with the aim of using the network to share resources, information, events and services that are relevant to girls on the spectrum, as well as providing support to their parents and carers. Girls Connect now runs free online events (with guest speakers) on topics of interest to its members and an opportunity for group discussion, every 6 weeks or so. Coffee mornings for Girls Connect members will start up again this Autumn too.  There is also an invitation-only Facebook page for sharing information and network support.

If you are interested in joining the group, you can search for the group, Southwest London Girls Connect on Facebook and request admittance or email swlondongirlsconnect@gmail.com