Autism Connect 2021 Year in Review

2021 has been a huge year for Amaze and Autism Connect. After years of providing our successful autism advisor service in Victoria, Autism Connect launched nationwide in June, providing Australians with free autism information and advice by phone, email and webchat.

We celebrated the launch with an online event for autistic people and the autism community hosted by author and autistic advocate Clem Bastow. The launch also featured a video message of support from the Minister for Families and Social Services, the Hon. Senator Anne Ruston, who praised Autism Connect for the vital service it provides autistic people and their supporters.

Some of our highlights since our national launch are:

• We’ve seen a significant increase in calls, emails and webchats from autistic people, families and carers, and professionals from every state and territory in Australia.
• An increase of autistic people contacting Autism Connect.
• Expanding our team and welcoming new Autism Connect advisors as demand for the service grew.
• Working with our service partners, who have provided a wealth of autism information, experience, and support in 2021. We’re excited to be welcoming more partners in 2022, so watch this space!
• Launching our popular monthly newsletter, which highlights the voices of autistic people by sharing personal stories and experiences. 
• Adding to our translated resources and information. Some examples are our NDIS Readiness Resource and “What is autism?” poster, both now available in 13 languages.

Autism Connect: Search — providing information you can trust

With so much misinformation about autism available online, its essential people have access to autism information and resources that are accurate and based on research.

That’s why in 2021 we launched our free online directory Autism Connect: Search. Perfect for those who prefer to do self-directed research, Autism Connect: Search provides the most comprehensive curated list of autism resources available in Australia.

Autism Connect: Search also provides a local search, providing the autism community with easy access to local autism services, events, and groups.

Every resource on Autism Connect: Search has been reviewed and categorised by Amaze to ensure that the information is accurate. Autism Connect: Search currently contains over 500 resources for autistic people, family members, health professionals and educators. In 2022 we will continue expanding on this, giving people access to the most up-to-date autism resources and information available.

Your feedback and support

The feedback and support we have received from those who have contacted Autism Connect has made a significant positive impact on us in 2021. We’re so grateful for the comments we’ve received and to know the difference we’ve made in the lives of people using our service across the country.

Here is just some of the wonderful feedback our advisors have received this year:

“Amaze was referred to me by my doctor. I contacted Autism Connect via webchat due to difficulties speaking on the phone. It is great that Amaze have a team dedicated to the webchat platform for people like me and it’s not run by robots with automatic replies. Initially, I felt lost and did not know where to begin in the world of autism. However, with the help of the Autism Connect Advisor and the Amaze webchat, I now have a path. 

I would recommend Autism Connect to anyone who doesn’t know where to start, anyone who feels lost and needs support. Thank you all for what you do. It means a lot to people like me.”

“I have been on the phone for weeks desperate to help my autistic son, feeling like we are at a dead end with services and confused about the NDIS. I was so delighted to have talked with Autism Connect. For a start, I felt calmer knowing I had someone on our team, she sent a page full of ideas and resources for us to try. I had my first sigh of relief for a very long time. Thank you, Autism Connect!”

“I’m an Occupational Therapist who reached out to Autism Connect for advice and guidance for a family finding it difficult to access supports for their child with autism. I received a clear, thorough and very practical list of services, funding options, support agencies etc. This information would have taken me hours to gather on my own. The family I passed it on two were unbelievably appreciative.”

Thank you to all our supporters for being there with us during what has been a very eventful year. We look forward to seeing what 2022 brings.

As the year draws to a close, our Autism Connect advisors will be taking a short break for the holidays. Our phone, email and webchat helpline will be closing Friday 24 December 2021 and reopening Tuesday 4 January 2021. During this time Autism Connect: Search will still be online and available, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.