From the CEO: welcome to our new eSpectrum

I’m delighted to share our revamped eSpectrum e-newsletter with our Amaze community.
We are always encouraged by the extent to which eSpectrum is read each fortnight and hope the new look enhances its readability and usefulness.
eSpectrum will continue to provide the valuable information our community wants.
We will report on what’s keeping Amaze busy in how we are delivering on our strategic priorities as well as publishing events of interest (Amaze’s and others) to our community.

New Amaze Logo and Purpose Statement

You may have noticed that Amaze has a new logo and purpose statement — “Shaping the future for Autism” — which we created in consultation with autistic people and other members of our community.
Amaze exists to improve the quality of life for autistic people and their families and carers by advocating to governments and the wider world to ensure our community’s voice is heard and action taken.
We believe the new logo and statement better represent our goals and the work we do.

Spectrospective Year 3

We have just launched the call-for-entries for Spectrospective 2017.
Now in its third year, Spectrospective: Stories of Autism is part of our quest to improve understanding of autism and ensure the stories of autistic people and their families and carers are heard to improve the wider world’s support for autistic people.
The 2017 film entries will add to our library of more than 75 stories.

This year we are inviting people to share photos, pictures and written stories via social media. too.
We have had tremendously positive feedback from Spectrospective participants (my favourites relate to the excitement people have felt when they’ve seen themselves on the big screen at past cinema events!), as well as feedback from those who don’t have a connection to autism but now have gained a much better understanding of it.
Film story submissions are due in by March 10, 2017. I can’t wait to see the entries we receive this year.

New Amaze Board Directors and Observers

I take this opportunity to welcome our new Board Directors _ Michel Mamet and Katharine Pye _ as well as new Board Observer Stacey Smith, who has created the Sisterhood Society of Australia.
Stacey is the third autistic Observer to be appointed.
Along with autistic Board Director, Rachel McNamara, and two other autistic Observers Karen Firth and Paul Goddard, Stacey will add to the rich and insightful contribution to Amaze’s governance and Amaze’s genuine commitment to involve autistic people in our work.
I look forward to sharing more news with you through eSpectrum and, once again, welcome any feedback on our work via [email protected].
Fiona Sharkie, CEO Amaze