SEMA.Scot

The Autistic Burnout Virtual Conference 2026
2026-06-05 08:30 - 15:00 UTC
A two day conference on June 5th & 6th with neurodivergent speakers. A deep dive into autistic and other neurodivergent burnout and recovery

A two day virtual conference for neurodivergent individuals, parents of neurodivergent children/young people and professionals working with neurodivergent people, held onFri June 5th and Sat June 6th 2026 andpresented by the Autistic Burnout Network (ABN)
www.autisticburnoutnetwork.com
Join us as neurodivergent professionals (members of The Autistic Burnout Network) take you on a deep dive into understanding autistic and other neurodivergent burnout and recovery.
Speakers include: Dr Alice Nicholls, Laura Hellfeld, Dr Joanne Riordan, Helen Edgar, Claire Hendrikson, Sofia Farzana, Pete Wharmby, Courtney Freedman-Thompson and Viv Dawes.
Webinar topics:
Severe and enduring autistic burnout
PDA burnout
Autistic children & young people, education and burnout
Racialised neurodivergent people & the mental health system
Burnout, monotropism and sleep
Stages of burnout and recovery
Rest and sensory needs in burnout recovery
Connection through co-regulation
Burnout through a nervous system lens
Neurodivergent burnout food and eating
Last year’s conference was attended by hundreds of people and attendees are still talking about how amazing it was and how it impacted them “It was phenominal!”
The chat on both days will be monitored by members of the ABN and on Saturday afternoon there will be a question and answer panel where you can ask members of ABN questions about burnout and recovery.
You can attend one or both days or attend however many of the webinars that you wish to or can manage, but all the webinars are recorded and all ticket holders will get access to all recordings and bonus content after the event.
Each attendee will also get access to a conference handbook pdf
Eventbrite will send a ‘Join the meeting’ link for the Friday 5th on the morning of that day.
The zoom link for the Saturday is the same zoom link as the Friday (but please do not try to join on the Saturday using the Eventbrite ‘Join the meeting’ link from the Friday).
I will also email all attendees on the Friday morning with the zoom link in case you cannot find it. This link lets you join on both days. Please check spam. Enquiries can be sent to info@autisticburnoutnetwork.com

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Mayfield Centre, Stirling
2026-05-14 11:00 - 13:00 UTC
Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA) is partnering with RISE Forth Valley to deliver community sessions on Understanding and Supporting Autistic People.
These sessions build awareness, challenge misconceptions, and support communities.
Topics covered:
⬩ What is Autism
⬩ Common myths and misconceptions
⬩ Communication and sensory differences
⬩ How to support Autistic people
⬩ Rights of Autistic people and their carers

Urdu translation available.
Open to everyone.
To book: Contact the RISE Parent Club Coordinator.

Polmont Community Hub, Falkirk
2026-05-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-22 10:00 - 12:00 UTC

Polmont Community Hub,Falkirk
2026-04-29 10:00 - 12:00 UTC

The Impact of Colonialism on Autistic People
2025-11-25 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
The Impact of Colonialism on Autistic People
Tuesday 25 November, 7-9 pm.Sofia will be speaking in a webinar presented by the Autistic Burnout Network alongside Claire Betson and Viv Dawes, where we will explore how colonialism has shaped the treatment, understanding, and lived experiences of Autistic people across different societies.
We will be looking at:
How colonial systems have defined whose voices are heard and whose are dismissed
Misogyny and hierarchy in the ways Autistic people are perceived and supported
The impact of migration, displacement, and climate on the lives of Autistics
Intersectionality, identity, and the politics of who is allowed to belong
This conversation is essential because many Autistic people, particularly those from racialised and marginalised backgrounds, are navigating experiences shaped by histories and power structures that are rarely acknowledged in mainstream discussions of neurodiversity.
There will be space for questions, and the session will be recorded for all ticket holders.
A percentage of ticket sales will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestine. To find out more about their work, visit www.map.org.uk.
To attend or learn more: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-impact-of-colonialism-on-autistic-people-tickets-1754475446289l
#ActuallyAutistic
#RacialisedAutisticVoices
#Colonialism
#GazaFundraiser
#Intersectionality
#AutisticBurnoutNetwork

The Autistic Collective In Collaboration With Aurora And SEMA
2025-09-17 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Theme:

Can’t get into school… taking a holistic approach

Speakers:

Marion McLaughlin; Aurora Autistic Consulting

Sofia Farzana; Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA)

When:

Wednesday 17th September 7.00 – 9.00pm

Where:

Online (Zoom)

Who:

Open to parents and carers, and professionals in East Renfrewshire only

How:

Register at www.autistic-collective.org

Can’t make it on the night? Don’t worry, please register anyway. All registrants will get access to the recording and extra resources afterwards.

Neurodivergence in the Workplace Scotland Conference
2025-05-19 09:30 - 15:30 UTC
SEMA have been invited to a panel discussion on Neurodiversity in the Workplace hosted by Holyrood Insight. We will discuss the onboarding process of employment and what employers should consider during recruitment processes.
Location: COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh

Autistic Burnout Network Conference
2025-05-17 13:00 - 22:30 UTC
Autistic Burnout: Understanding, Supporting, and Recovering
Autistic burnout is a deeply familiar experience for many autistic individuals—yet it remains largely unrecognized by those outside the autistic community, including many professionals who work with autistic people. Awareness of its causes, impacts, and effective support strategies is still limited.
The effects of autistic burnout can be profound, affecting education, employment, mental and physical health, and overall quality of life. For some, it can escalate to crisis levels, even leading to hospitalization.
In 2024, autistic advocate Viv Dawes founded the Autistic Burnout Network, a collective of neurodivergent professionals from diverse fields, including psychology, healthcare, social work, therapy, and advocacy. Together, they are dedicated to helping professionals, parents, and neurodivergent individuals better understand autistic burnout and the path to recovery.
We invite you to a one-day conference designed for professionals, parents, and individuals, covering essential topics such as:

Supporting autistic teens through burnout

Burnout’s impact on family life

Intersectionality and burnout

Missed or misdiagnosed autistic individuals

The impact of shame

The double empathy problem

All sessions will be recorded, and ticket holders will receive access to the recordings and bonus content after the event.
Tickets:

£44 for professionals

Pay-what-you-can for parents and individuals

Proceeds will support valuable organizations, including Papyrus UK and Equal Potential CIC.

Autism, Religion and Spirituality, and Minority Ethnic Identities
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
Abstract:
In this webinar, Léon van Ommen will present highlights from his research project on autism,spirituality/religion, and minority identities. Léon’s project focuses on two specific minority groups within the autism discourse: those who cannot rely on spoken language as their primary way of communicating, and ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom (esp. Black Autistic people). For many ethnic minority or racialised groups, religion is an important aspect of life. However, religion is often overlooked in autism studies, or collapsed under the wide umbrella of ‘culture.’ Thus, this webinar aims at creating a space to discuss the often overlooked intersection of autism, religion and minority identity.
Who:
Dr Léon van Ommen is Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen, and Co-Director of the Centre for Autism and Theology. Léon’s research focuses on the lived experience of neurodivergent (esp. autistic) people in relation to faith, religion and spirituality. He has done research with autistic people and disabled people in Singapore, Kenya, the United Kingdom, theUnited States, and other countries. Léon is author of numerous publications, including Autism and Worship: A Liturgical Theology (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2023).
Register in Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/autism-religion-and-spirituality-and-minority-ethnic-identities-tickets-1235097984319?aff=oddtdtcreator
Send in your questions to: info@sema.scot with subject Autism & Spirituality Webinar
Format: 50 min recorded talk followed by unrecorded Q&A discussion

Autistic and Muslim during Ramadan
2025-02-22 17:45 - 19:00 UTC
Ramadan is just round the corner!

While we prepare for this blessed month, let’s also consider the needs of those around us, including the Autistic Muslims.

Whether it’s the transitions or sensory differences, the sleep disruption or community events, Ramadan can bring on some challenges. However, when those around us; family, friends, schools, or workplaces reflect on our Autistic experiences, they can make changes to accommodate us and make this special time accessible, inclusive and joyful.

Join Dr Sofia Rehman (PhD Islamic Theology) in conversation with Co-Founder of Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistic’s Sofia Farzana to explore what it’s like being Autistic and Muslim during Ramadan, and how we can all foster belonging and support.

Saturday 22nd Feb
5:45pm GMT
YouTube Live on the SEMA YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/live/5-gRLER2zgM

#Ramadan #Autistic #Community #Islam #AutisticMuslim #RamadanReady
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International Day of Disabled People Live Discussion
2024-12-03 14:00 - 17:00 UTC
Join us on SEMA’s YouTube channel as we talk about Amplifying the leadership of disabled persons for an inclusive and sustainable future
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SWAN Webinar: 'The Multi-Layered Experience of Being Me
2024-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
About this Webinar
“The Multi-Layered Experience of Being Me”Sofia will be speaking about her core beliefs that manifested from a lifetime of challenges being neurodivergent, Brown, female and Muslim.

I Don’t Fit In- Culture clashes
It’s Not Fair- discrimination on multiple levels
I Am Not Enough- struggling with self worth.

We Hope that You Can Join Us
More About Our Speaker:
Sofia is a late diagnosed AuDHD Scottish born daughter of Pakistani migrant family. She cofounded Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA) on the back of the lack of support understanding and acceptance of Autistic People of Colour. SEMA aims to improve services in Scotland so that the lives of Autistics from racialised minority groups can lead better lives. Some of the work that they have been involved in can be found at www.sema.scot

Important Information – Please Read
Who is this webinar for?
SWAN webinars are safer, autistic-led and autistic-only spaces for all autistic women and non-binary people.
SWAN is inclusive of all autistic women non-binary people, including those who are exploring if they are autistic, who self identify as autistic or are clinically diagnosed (private or NHS)
SWAN webinars are for over-18s who are living, studying or working in Scotland.
If these descriptions do not match you, we ask that you do not attend our webinars unless they are specifically stated to be open to non-autistic individuals.
Visit our website for details of all SWAN events and activities: swanscotland.org
Accessibility
We aim to make our webinars as accessible as possible. You are free to participate as little or as much as you feel comfortable – talk, join in the text chat, stim, bring your pets along, or just watch and listen with your camera on or off.
We currently use Eventbrite and Zoom as tools to enable us to run these online groups. They do have pros and cons and can be a bit stressful to navigate sometimes, so please allow yourself plenty time to get logged in before the group starts – it’s fine to join a bit early as you’ll just see a virtual ‘waiting room’ screen until the group starts and the host lets everyone in at once.
When registering to attend, please do use the name you feel most comfortable – this does not need to match your ID or other documents.
Remember to check when joining the meeting that your zoom screen name also matches the name you wish to use in the group. You have control to change that to the name you want and also to add your pronouns if you want to – you can change this in your zoom account settings any time and you can also edit while you are in the waiting room before the meeting starts (or during the meeting).
Closed Captions are available in all meetings and you can control whether you want see them or not during the meeting.
If you have any questions or need any help accessing this online session, please get in touch: info@swanscotland.org

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event
Eventbrite’s fee is nonrefundable.

Live Discussion: Celebrating Autistic Pride
2024-06-18 10:00 - 17:00 UTC
Join us on SEMA’s YouTube channel as we talk about Autistic Pride Day
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Webinar 5
2023-06-13 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Open to Minority Ethnic Autistics and families in East Renfrewshire and surrounding areas.
Following on from our “Ramadan through the lens of the senses” and “Crisis Points” sessions, this webinar will cover:
✨What is Autistic Burnout;
✨Impact of Burnout;
✨How to prevent Burnout;
✨How to recover from Burnout.
To attend this FREE webinar, and to get a ZOOM link:
Please contact / email bushra@eastrenfrewshirecarers.co.uk OR hello@autistic-collective.org
Can’t make it? Don’t worry, please register anyway! All registrants will be sent a recording afterwards
Please Note: The presenters will be the only people visible on your screen on the night / in the recording. The Q&A section of the session will NOT be recorded.
This topic is a hard one but critical for carers to understand, especially those from Asian, Afro-Carribean, Arab, South American or Eastern European families.
Autistics from our communities face multiple difficulties that lead to burn out with less support and understanding available to them to recover.
You autistic loved one *needs* your unconditional, informed, non-judgemental support, and more so, they need safe place in society to flourish as is their human right.
Many thanks to The Autistic Collective CIC & East Renfrewshire Carers Centre for this platform.

ERCC Webinar 4
2023-02-21 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/Paris)
Audio Poster Webinar 4

ERCC Webinar 3
2022-12-06 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/Paris)

ERCC Webinar 2
2022-11-08 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
