Home – about SYA?

Hello and welcome to the online resources that form part of the So, You’re Autistic? pre- and post-diagnostic support for autistics.

See here for the latest new and news. 

While this website primarily began as an online resource for our structured support programme for autistic students at the University of Kent (see outline further down this page), Chloe and Annette have since expanded their work to include:

• Training provision for use in a number of settings, including:
  • schools
  • universities
  • community settings
  • workplaces (e.g. local and metropolitan police personnel)
  • County councils, NHS trusts/foundations
  • SEND/SENCO groups
• Resources relating to autistic experience – both theory and practical advice about being autistic. These resources are for anyone and everyone. 
• Their participation as members on a Steering Committee for an autistic, collaborative project with Professor Nicola Shaughnessy at the University of Kent School of Arts: the Playing A/Part project with autistic girls. 

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See below for a video of Chloe being interviewed by the University of Kent about So, You’re Autistic? 

Support Programme Description: So, You’re Autistic (SYA)? at the University of Kent is a pre- and post-diagnostic support for autistics: a support programme teaching those with a diagnosis, awaiting a diagnosis, or self-diagnosed HOW to be autistic – to understand what being autistic means for YOU.

The SYA? support programme was developed by Chloe Farahar and Annette Foster whilst PhD students at the University of Kent. Chloe and Annette were both diagnosed as adults and had to learn what being autistic meant for them. Chloe and Annette developed the SYA? programme so that future autistics do not have to figure out what being autistic means alone – to explore what being autistic means together. 

The purposes of the sessions include:

• Contextualising your experiences with the new knowledge that you are/might be autistic (perhaps you’re not sure/can’t see how you’re autistic)
• Learning coping strategies, including stimming, and how to improve your well-being 
• Finding others with whom you share commonalities, and feeling part of a community
• Improving self-esteem and well-being: feeling proud to be autistic
• Teaching you the neuro-diversity narrative, opposing the disorder narrative
• Touching on the interaction between autism and gender
• Sharing resources to help avoid the mountains of information online etc.

This website contains information for those who are enrolled on the SYA? programme. Here you can find:

• Session guides on what each SYA? session should cover and work through
• Resource lists (containing information on books, blogs, charities etc.)
• Videos – such as Chloe’s lecture on what autism is, what it is not, and why women, non-binary, and trans people are less likely to be realise they are autistic, and Annette’s video about her life as an autistic artist
• Posts from Chloe and Annette to supplement the programme sessions
• And a space where programme attendees can contribute to the site and programme: share tips, information, and ask questions  

See here to see what our past attendees had to say about the programme.