Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication

@shadiahancock

(They/them) | Speech pathologist | AuDHD advocate | Autism Actually Speech & Communication owner | #ActuallyAutistic Website: www.autismactually.com.au

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Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· 8d

In celebration of International Assistance Dogs (and Animals) Week for 2026, I have written an article summarising some of the wonderful ways my assistance dog Arwen supports me daily. 🐩🐾🩵🫶🏼 Link: www.autismactually.com.au/post/celebra...

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· 10d

Today marks the beginning of International Assistance Dog Week, with the theme #BetterTogether highlighting the power of the community supporting the wonderful work of our assistance dog teams, including community members, businesses, organisations, supporters, volunteers, and service providers. 🐕‍🦺🦮🐾

[Text description: International Assistance Dog Week. 2-8 August 2026. @autismactuallyau]

[Image description: The picture is a close up of Arwen, a brown standard poodle, who is lying down on a mat and is wearing a light blue assistance dog jacket.]

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· 14d

I had the immense pleasure of drawing this handsome chap, Kenneth, for a commission project recently. 🐶 I love his beautiful brindle coat and expressive face. #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #FineArt #Pawtraits #AutismActually

A soft pastel drawing depicting a staffy cross with a pale black and yellow brindle coat. He is looking towards the side with his mouth open and has a white chest.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· May 10

A belated shout out to all the wonderful mothers in our community for Mother's Day for 2026. I personally feel so grateful to have my mother in my life and to call her my best friend, role model, and my favourite person. Thank you, Mum! 🥰💕

Text: Happy Mother’s Day!. Copyright Autism Actually, 2026.

Images: 3 photos of Jane and Shadia with graphics of pink love hearts, a rainbow, and pink flowers. Top left picture is of Shadia as a child sitting on the grass with Jane reaching down towards them. The next two photos are of adult Shadia with Jane, one at a speaking gig, and the other at Shadia’s graduation ceremony.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· May 6

Arwen and I had the pleasure of joining Caitlin McGregor, CB Mako, and Dr Clem Bastow tonight at the Fitzroy Town Hall Reading Room for an author talk about the anthology ‘Someone Like Me’. 🐩🩵🌈 #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #Disabled #AutismActually

4 people seated. From left to right: Shadia Hancock, Clem Bastow (wearing a green mask and holding up a copy of ‘Someone Like Me’), Caitlin McGregor, and CB Mako.

Shadia is standing up and signing a book. Their assistance dog Arwen is sitting on a white mat next to them and is wearing a light blue vest.

A table with copies of ‘Someone Like Me’ displayed.

A photo of the empty Fitzroy Town Hall reading room.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Apr 25

Our team at Autism Actually would like to pay our respects to the brave defence personnel who served, and who continue to serve to protect our country as part of Anzac Day, 2026. Lest we forget. 🌺

Text: Anzac Day. 25 April 2026. Lest we forget.

Image description: 3 res poppies against an off white background

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Apr 5

To all who celebrate, we wish you a very Happy Easter for 2026. And in true ADHD fashion, I forgot about World Autism Appreciation/Acceptance Day (WAAD) on April the 2nd! To read more about our thoughts on WAAD, please check out our blog post: www.autismactually.com.au/post/moving-...

[Text description: Happy Easter from the Autism Actually team. www.autismactually.com.au]

[Image description: A golden coloured Easter bunny is sitting and holding a blue Easter egg with purple spots. There are three piles of Easter eggs, sorted via colour. To the right, there is a basket of Easter eggs with assorted colours and sizes.]

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Jan 14

I wanted to share about a very special team with Assistance Paws Australia who is being recognised as a finalist in PuppyTale’s Australia Dog of the Year and People’s Choice awards. 🐕‍🦺🐾🩵 To read more about Honey’s story, and to vote for her, please follow this link: puppytales.com.au/finalists-20...

A pug cross with a blue Assistance paws vest is sitting next to a smiling white woman wearing a sunflower hidden disabilities lanyard on a hospital bed.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Jan 14

Shout out to my mentor and dog trainer Yvonne Mann of Busimann's Dog Training. 🐩🐕‍🦺🐾 Yvonne is an experienced force free trainer who provides support for puppies, pet dogs, dogs with behavioural issues, assistance dogs, and therapy dogs. Website: www.busimannsdogtraining.com.au

A white woman wearing sunglasses is smiling while a German Shepherd is touching her face.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Jan 12

From @autienelle. I can hear fluorescent lights and computer monitors. Who can relate???

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Dec 8

Free webinar alert! I am joining Kristy from Belongside Families to discuss gaming and online safety for neurodivergent and disabled primary school children. 📅 Mon 15 Dec, 8pm AEDT 🔗 Register to watch live or receive the replay: events.humanitix.com/infosession1...

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Dec 3

Shout out to our wonderful disabled community members in recognition of International Day of People with Disability for 2025. This year’s theme focuses on the importance of promoting disability inclusive societies. More information can be found at: www.idpwd.com.au/about/about-... #IDPwD

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Oct 29

I am delighted to be joining Belongside Families to discuss a topic very close to my heart - Autism and gender diversity. More info: Autism & Gender Diversity Webinar 📅 Mon 10 Nov | 8pm NSW Time 💻 Free online event 🔗 Register to watch live or receive the replay: lnkd.in/gUCU_2xP

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Oct 13

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of presenting again at the Autism Teaching Institute on one of my biggest passions, Autistic communication, alongside speech pathologist Fiona Whelan. It was lovely to catch up once again with Maria Hickey (pictured), who was my early childhood educator.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Jul 10

This week (6-13 July) is NAIDOC Week in Australia. This year’s theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”, celebrates 50 years of celebrating and honouring our First Nations Australians. Poster: ‘Ancestral Lines’ by Jeremy Morgan Worrall, National NAIDOC 2025 Poster.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Jun 6

The Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Conference Australia is happening on Thursday and Friday the 10th and 11th of July. Please follow the link for more information: www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org/loapac-expo25 #Neurodivergence #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #NeurodiversityAffirmingPractice

Text: LOAPAC Expo ‘25. Congratulations to LOAPAC on LOAPAC Expo 25 - showcasing the leadership of Autistic psychologists and affirming care for all.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Apr 25

Today, on ANZAC Day (25/04/25), I remember the brave Australian and New Zealand soldiers who served and sacrificed so much for our country and freedom. Lest we forget. 🌺

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Apr 23

Sharing information regarding a Macquarie University research study about supporting Neurodivergent students by Master of Research student Ari Star. mqedu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...   If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ari at ari.star@hdr.mq.edu.au.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Apr 2

Today (2nd April) is technically World Autism Day, but for us Autistic individuals, every day is Autism Day! More information about WAAD and April can be found here: www.autismactually.com.au/post/moving-...

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Mar 25

PhD student Jing Hu from Monash University is conducting a study on the experiences of post-secondary students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Please find more information below: sites.google.com/monash.edu/j...

[Text description: Does your AAC work? We are looking for current postsecondary students who use AAC devices and strategies to study. Task: sharing your experience in a way that works for you. Rewarsd: up to AUD200 & joy of being valued for who you are. Join Now. jing.hu@monash.edu. Approved by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee.]

[Image description: A manual Proloquo Board is placed next to an iPad with Proloquo loaded on it]

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Mar 21

Did you know that this week (17-23 March) is Neurodiversity Celebration Week? Neurodiversity Celebration Week was founded by Siena Castellon in 2018. You can find out more about the initiative via their website: www.neurodiversityweek.com

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Feb 8

Super excited to have received my advance copies of the anthology ‘Someone Like Me’, edited by Dr Clem Bastow (author of ‘Late Bloomer’) and Jo Case. 🎉🦄🌈♾️ The book will be available in Australian bookshops from the 4th March 2025.

A picture of two copies of the book ‘Someone Like Me’. It is multicoloured and has closeup photos of people on the cover.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Jan 1

Wishing you all a Happy New Year for 2025. We are grateful for your ongoing support and are excited to see what this year brings. #HappyNewYear #ActuallyAutistic #HappyHolidays #Disabled #Neurodivergent #AutismActually

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Dec 23

The Autism Actually team would like to wish you all a wonderful holidays and a Happy New Year for 2025. We are so grateful for your ongoing support for our work and are excited to see what next year will bring. #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD #Disabled #Advocacy #AutismActually

A brown female standard poodle is wearing a navy blue harness and is wearing a light blue bowtie. She is sitting in front of an inflatable green Christmas tree with her mouth open.

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Dec 14

As the end of the year is fast approaching, I thought I would share information about my range of fine art greeting cards. If you would like to find out more or are interested in purchasing them, please follow this link: www.autismactually.com.au/product-page...

Shadia Hancock - Autism Actually Speech & Communication@shadiahancock· Dec 8

I have enjoyed continuing to engage in one of my passionate interests - artwork! 🎨 [pallette emoji] Here are some of my favourites from this year. #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #Disabled #Art #Artist #Drawing #Sketching #MixedMedia #StillLife #Potraiture #Animals #AutismActually