Run by
Mia from Skylarks
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Wednesday 24th September from 8PM - 9PM with Q&A until 9.30
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.
Girls Connect are delighted to announce guest speaker Dr Claire Scott.
Getting the right support / assessment / diagnosis - unpicking the myths
Dr Scott has over 20 years working as a consultant paediatrician assessing children with neurodiversity in the local area.
She is passionate about enabling and supporting parents to ensure that their children receive effective support, the correct diagnosis and this includes the sometimes subtle and different presentation in girls.
In this talk Dr Scott will cover some of the issues in her previous talk 'Whose job is it anyway? - ‘Health' vs ‘Education’ which covered topics like support / interventions for autistic girls while in mainstream school; managing autistic burnout (linked to exam anxiety), therapeutic support and training and awareness for schools. and talk about current issues and debunk some of the myths.
Dr Claire Scott
Dr Scott has worked as a Consultant Community Paediatrician, both in the NHS and privately since 2003 - specialising in autism assessments, including girls with autism. She believes in supporting children and young people, families and schools to work together to ensure each child achieves their potential, maintains their emotional well-being and is able to thrive.
Over the years, she has also worked with a number of allied professionals to support clients and their families to feel empowered, and to put in strategies (by working with the education and health partners) to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people.
Girls Connect Background
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
PLEASE SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE, TO mia@skylarks.charity
