Recorded and originally aired: 5th February 2022, 19:00pm London GMT; 11:00am PST: *Autistic people & addiction: David Gray-Hammond in discussion with Aucademy's Annette & Mel 05.02.2022*
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Potential TRIGGER WARNINGS: potential strong language, disclosure of cPTSD/PTSD, suicide, addiction to substances
In this session, David Gray-Hammond (he/him) chats to Annette (they/them) and Mel (she/they) about the under-researched link between being Autistic (or otherwise neurodivergent) and substance use and addiction.
Guest speaker:
David Gray-Hammond (he/him) is an Autistic addiction and mental health advocate from the South East of England. He has worked in substance misuse consultancy in his home city of Brighton since 2016, and has worked with commissioners to make sure that neurodivergent people are represented when services are commissioned and treatment policy is written. He writes on the topics of autism, addiction, and mental health, and is an ongoing educator-learner and host on Aucademy.
Guest speaker details: Mel Duncan (she/they) has been working with young people and vulnerable adults for 30 years. They have worked with young people within the criminal justice system, young people in local authority care, managed an advocacy service and leaving care provision and supported Autistic and ADHD students in alternative provision. Mel is one of the co-founders and Directors of Gecko Community, an alternative provision for Autistic and ADHD young people. Mel is a late diagnosed Autistic, ADHD (and suspects PDA) adult, who is completing their Forest School Leader Level 3 and has just completed a BA Honours degree, gaining 1st class Honours.
Pages for speakers:
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**Please note we are not clinicians or diagnosticians**
David Gray-Hammond (he/him) - Autistic writer, educator, and Autistic addiction and mental health advocate
Mel Duncan (she/they) - Autistic educator, co-founder and Director of Gecko Community, and self-advocate
Dr Annette Foster (she/they) - Autistic academic, educator, and self-advocate
