Autistic pupils across West Sussex have been celebrating their strengths at a series of roadshow events organised by the county council.
Around 230 people took part in sessions in Burgess Hill, Crawley and individual schools last month, all aimed at promoting positive messages about autism and ensuring autistic voices are heard.
The events were created with student autism ambassador groups and focused on the theme Calming the Chaos, offering wellbeing advice and resilience tools.
A highlights video featuring contributions from children and young people who attended, as well as education professionals, is available to watch on the West Sussex County Council YouTube channel.
WATCH: Highlights from ‘Calming the Chaos’
The roadshow events, held last month at The King’s Centre in Burgess Hill and The Charis Centre in Crawley, were part of the Autism In Schools project. This collaborative initiative between NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board and West Sussex County Council started in 2021 to improve the support for autistic children in mainstream schools.
Among the speakers were author and illustrator Eliza Fricker, and Dan Clark from MindJam, who demonstrated how gaming can be a powerful tool for young people to manage their emotions and navigate neurodivergence.
The events also welcomed representatives from the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum, who were on hand to answer questions and offer support to families.
Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “I’m delighted that autistic children and young people have been given a voice and an engaging platform to celebrate the very things that make them so unique.
“Events such as this are key to achieving Our Council Plan’s aim of helping everyone in West Sussex fulfil their potential. Supporting our neurodivergent pupils, along with their neurotypical peers, is crucial for teaching all students how to effectively help and understand one another.”
Dr Bikram Raychaudhuri, GP and NHS Sussex Clinical Director for Mental Health, said: “The roadshow events have been a wonderful celebration of the creativity, insight and resilience that autistic children and young people bring to our communities.
“Events like these, and the wider Autism in Schools work, show how powerful partnership can be. When education and health teams work together with families, we move beyond awareness to real inclusion. Focusing on strengths lays the foundations for wellbeing that last far beyond the school environment.”
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