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Autism & Neurodiversity Community Information Night - May 26th, from 7pm at Myrtleford P-12 College
Who are we?
Who are we?
The Alpine Valleys Autism Community (AVAC) is a lived-experience led organisation supporting Autistic people and Carers of Autistic people across the Alpine Shire in North East Victoria.
Founded in 2024 by local residents who are late-identified autistic, and carers to young autistic people, we create safe, welcoming spaces for connection, learning, and mutual support.
We embrace and celebrate autism as a natural part of human diversity, and our work is guided by neurodiversity-affirming principles that focus on genuine acceptance and understanding.
Through our monthly Autistic Peer Support Group, Autism Carer Support Groups, and online communities, we're building a stronger, more connected autism community for our region.
Our Mission
Our Mission
To enhance the well-being of Autistic People, and Carers of Autistic people across the Alpine Shire, by providing opportunities for connection, learning, and mutual support, delivered through lived-experience leadership and guided by neurodiversity-affirming principles.
What is Autism?
What is Autism?
Autism is a fundamental part of human diversity that shapes who someone is.
Autistic people experience and interact with the world differently than non-autistic people. This includes different ways of thinking, communicating, making friends, moving, and processing sensory information.
While every autistic person is unique, they often share more characteristics with other autistic people than with non-autistic people. Being autistic isn't something that needs changing - it's a core part of who someone is and how they understand and move through the world.
We highly recommend watching autistic researcher Jac den Houting's short video, "Why everything you know about autism is wrong", for an easily accesible, accurate, expert description of what autism is, and what it isn't.
We can also recommend reading Reframing Autism's explanation of autism, along with their other educational resources including their free (for personal use) Autism Essentials online course.
What is Neurodiversity?
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity recognises that there are many kinds of brains that work differently, and that's natural and good.
Just as we all look different on the outside, we also think, learn, and experience the world differently on the inside.
Some people's brains are wired to be autistic, others ADHD or dyslexic. And some people may be a combination of these. All these differences are valuable parts of human diversity.
Understanding neurodiversity helps us move away from trying to "fix" brain differences and instead focus on accepting and supporting each person's unique way of being.
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