Karea Sutherland
PDA ADHD Autistic Queer Tagata Moana. They / Them She / Her
I bring a deep understanding of PDA autism and ADHD and the challenges we face, as I personally navigate a lot of these barriers too.
Over the past twenty years, I have had the privilege of working with countless Autistic and ADHD adults and youth, as well as their families and support teams. This has given me a profound understanding of the unique needs and strengths of neurodivergent individuals, and the educational approaches that have been the most neuro-affirming.
In 2017, I established Earth School, a Neurodiversity Inclusion Centre in west Melbourne, Australia. This centre served as a hub for inclusive education, providing a safe and nurturing environment for neurodivergent individuals to thrive centred on special-interests directed learning, student agency and autonomy, socioemotional intelligent communication, and universal design for learning.
In addition to my role as an Advisor for Altogether Autism, I am actively engaged in co-facilitating inclusive events, delivering presentations on autism and neurodiversity, providing professional development trainings, and developing policies and resources that promote inclusivity. I am also committed to ongoing personal and professional development to stay abreast of the latest research and best practices in the field. My two neurodivergent unschoolers continue to keep me on my toes too.
I am grateful to be part of a team that shares my passion for promoting equality and empowerment for all individuals. Together, I believe we can create a brighter and more inclusive future.”