10 February 2020 – Autism specialist organisation Altogether Autism is seeking expressions of interest from people with lived experience and expertise in autism for its two advisory groups.

National manager Catherine Trezona said Altogether Autism was committed to providing comprehensive expert advice founded on evidence-based best practice and advice from those with lived experience.

Catherine Trezona

Altogether Autism is a national autism information service contracted by the Ministry of Health and operated in partnership between Life Unlimited Charitable Trust and Parent to Parent New Zealand.

“We provide advice and information to autistic people, their families, providers of services, media and to other interested people,” she said.

“Our advisors play a crucial role in helping us do that.”

The two advisory groups represent professionals and consumers.

“We’re keen to hear from a paediatrician and an education professional to join our Professional Advisory Group which already has representation from clinical psychology, psychiatry, speech language therapy and law.”

For its Consumer Advisory Group, Altogether Autism wants up to four autistic people or family/whānau of autistic people.

Members get an annual honorarium of $1500.

In return both groups will respond to information requests, contribute to the organisation’s flagship Journal and to national events such as network meetings and conferences.

Details of how to apply are on the Altogether Autism website.

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