@article {Beadle:2013:1466-2973:37,
title = "The A Factor experience: enabling people with autism to have a voice",
journal = "Good Autism Practice (GAP)",
parent_itemid = "infobike://bild/gap",
publishercode ="bild",
year = "2013",
volume = "14",
number = "1",
publication date ="2013-05-31T00:00:00",
pages = "37-45",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "1466-2973",
eissn = "2046-5521",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bild/gap/2013/00000014/00000001/art00006",
author = "Beadle, Dean and Ingram, Yvonne Carter and Lowery, Alex and Morgan, Colette and Parton, Rob and Plimley, Lynn and Vaughan, Owen",
abstract = "It is often the case that the most positive evaluations are given to the speakers on the autism spectrum following conferences, awareness-raising events or courses. They can illustrate how autism affects many areas of their daily lives and give insights into the strategies that help.
Professionals, carers and parents are often told to try to understand the 'why' of the behaviours seen and to use an 'autism lens' and not a 'neurotypical' lens. Autistic individuals are clearly best placed to give insights and possible explanations as to why people with autism respond and
engage as they do. There is an increasing number of young people and adults who talk about their autism at events and many others who would like to do so. In addition, all services for adults and children would benefit from having more input from autistic individuals and could look locally
for such input. Hearing from a person who has grown up in the area and accessed local services and schools is often very useful. This paper describes a mentoring system set up to enhance the speaking and presentation skills of young autistic adults who had expressed interest in talking publicly
about their lives. Four out of the five young men successfully completed the mentoring programme and gained personally from the experience. Two of the mentors were adults on the autism spectrum and were extremely effective in the mentoring role and in developing supportive relationships with
the mentees.",
}