Last weekend, something remarkable happened at The Autism Hub. What started as our Meet the Team event transformed into a powerful reminder of why Atypify exists in the first place.
The stories shared brought both tears and determination. One mother’s account of her autistic daughter’s unofficial school exclusion – not for any wrongdoing, but for speaking up about being physically assaulted – hit home hard. It’s exactly these systemic failures that fuel our mission. When schools lack proper safeguarding for neurodivergent and SEND young people, when parents struggle to balance work with caring for children pushed out of education, we know our work isn’t just important – it’s essential.
The turnout at both our launch and Sunday’s sessions was overwhelming. Each person who walked through our doors carried their own story, their own dreams, and most importantly, their own potential waiting to be unleashed.
But here’s the exciting part – we’re not just about tech education. We’re building a complete support ecosystem, and all of it is completely free:
🌈 Our Amazing Programs:
- Tech classes that adapt to your learning style
- Twice-weekly girls group led by the wonderful Samantha
- Fortnightly LGBTQ+ queer group run by Ace, our fantastic nonbinary Director of youth outreach
- Wellbeing sessions with Dr. Lauren (congratulations on passing your vivo!)
- Monthly D&D sessions with Casper Creedy and Ace (because who said learning can’t involve dragons?)
- And yes, we might even have special visits from Sara Donnelly and her therapy dog Ozzy! 🐕
The Magic of Our Space
Picture a place where wearing slippers is perfectly normal, where being yourself isn’t just accepted – it’s celebrated. Our team – Carole, Casper, Samantha, Lauren, Ace, Lara, and Kaitlyn – created an environment where genuine connections flourished over board games, shared stories, and countless moments of “finally, someone gets it!”
Supporting Our Mission
While our community services are free, we’re also offering professional services to sustain our work:
- Oliver McGowan Mandatory Learning training
- Mental Health First Aid training
- Diagnosis and counselling services
- Educational talks about neurodiversity and tech (and yes, we’ll happily chat about dungeons, dragons, and dinosaurs too!)
The Real Impact
During our launch, we saw something beautiful: people finding their tribe. Whether it was parents sharing similar struggles, young people lighting up at the mention of coding, or quiet nods of understanding during shared experiences – these moments confirmed what we already knew: Atypify isn’t just an organization, it’s a lifeline.
Looking Forward
Our doors are open to everyone who needs us. Whether you’re struggling with current educational systems, looking to learn tech skills, or simply seeking a community that understands you – we’re here. And no, we don’t believe neurodivergent parents should be forced to stay home – we believe in creating solutions that work for everyone.
Join Our Community
Every session, every group, every gathering is a step toward building the supportive environment our community deserves. Please join our mailing list, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to stay updated on all our activities and upcoming sessions.
Because at Atypify, we’re not just teaching tech – we’re creating the change we wish we’d had. And judging by our launch weekend, this is only the beginning. 💜
