UnMasked:
An Undiagnosed Autistic Adolescence

“You just need to stay calm. You should be able to manage. You should have grown out of that by now. You could try harder.”

Author and illustrator Eliza Fricker spent her adolescence being told all of these things, until her autism diagnosis as an adult revealed why she may not have met the expectations of others so easily.
As an adult, she met others who identified as neurodivergent. They shared similar stories and struggles, and so, with her own eventual diagnosis, she started to process her experiences and write about it. And while diagnosis doesn’t bring all the answers, it has allowed her to look back on her younger self with a bit more understanding and compassion – something she now wishes for others.

In this UnMasked talk, Eliza encourages neurodivergent folks to take an empathetic look back at their experiences and honour the identity they have created for themselves, in response to their experiences.

Eliza Fricker is an author and illustrator, and an advocate and consultant for PDA, autism and learning. She has published several books, including the Sunday Times bestselling Can’t Not Won’t, and the acclaimed, autobiographical Thumbsucker. Eliza offers a range of support for parents and educators on navigating autism and education, including one-to-one consultations, webinars, presentations, a podcast, and the enduring Missing the Mark illustrations and blog.

Age Recommendation:

All ages. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Price:

*A £2 venue levy is applied to each ticket purchased. This levy helps to support us in covering the costs of keeping our grade II listed building running and our doors open.*

In advance: • Standard £10 • Living Support £6 • Student £7 • Member FREE     (+ £2 venue levy)
On the Door: • Standard £11 • Living Support £7 • Student £8 • Member FREE  (+ £2 venue levy)
Online: • Standard £7 • Member FREE   (+ £2 venue levy)

Access Information:

This event is in the Brockway Room, which is located on the ground floor. The talk will also be livestreamed.

All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Cafe (street access, step-free). There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.