One-Minute Speeches

A. Welcome & Acknowledgement

• General Welcome
“Welcome to Autistic Pride Day 2025—where we celebrate being unapologetically Autistic. Today is not about fixing Autistic people—it’s about fixing systems that exclude us. Pride is not just a feeling, it’s a demand. And we are here to make it together.”
• Acknowledgement of Autistic People
“Before anything else, we honour every Autistic person in this space and beyond. This isn’t a token gesture—it’s a statement of truth: you are not just participants; you are the purpose. Your insights, your leadership, and your brilliance shape this movement.”
• Intersectional Acknowledgement
“Autistic people are not a monolith. Many of us are LGBTIQA+, First Nations, CALD, multiply disabled. We cannot claim inclusion while some are still marginalised within our own community. Pride means intersectionality.”

B. Theme Starters

• What “Unapologetically Autistic” Means
“To be unapologetically Autistic means we stop asking for permission to exist as we are. It means we lead with pride—not apology. We don’t shrink ourselves for comfort. We make the world grow into something better.”
• Why Inclusion is Political
“Inclusion isn’t kindness. It’s justice. It’s about funding, access, policy, language. It’s about redistributing power. Being unapologetically Autistic means knowing that systems must change—not us.”
• Pride Beyond Visibility
“Visibility alone isn’t enough. Pride means we are visible and safe. Celebrated, not tolerated. Heard, not managed. Included, not conditioned. Let’s move from display to dignity.”

C. Sector Spotlights

• Education & Neurodiversity
“Autistic students don’t need fixing—they need support. They need teachers who get it, policies that flex, and peers who don’t punish difference. Pride in education means agency, safety and belonging.”
• Employment & Economic Justice
“Being Autistic shouldn’t mean being unemployed. We need inclusive hiring that doesn’t demand we mask. We need employers who value different brains. Pride at work is knowing we don’t have to conform to succeed.”
• Health System Reform
“Autistic people are experts in our own bodies and minds. Healthcare must catch up. Pride means demanding trauma-informed, neuro-affirming care—and nothing less.”
• Justice & Safety
“Too many Autistic people are misjudged, criminalised, or denied justice. Being unapologetically Autistic means creating systems that see us, support us, and stop hurting us.”
• Gender, Culture & Diagnosis Barriers
“Autism is not a white boy thing. It lives in every culture, gender, language, body. Pride means breaking the diagnostic gatekeeping that has excluded too many for too long.”

D. Advocacy Closers

• The Future We’re Building
“Imagine a world where Autistic kids don’t have to unlearn their instincts. Where adults don’t burn out just to be palatable. Where difference is normal. Pride means we’re building that world—together.”
•  A Call to Policymakers
“Nothing about us without us. Policies that exclude Autistic voices are broken by design. Co-design is not a checkbox. It’s the bare minimum.”
• From Awareness to Action
“We don’t need another Autism Awareness Month. We need action. Legislation. Budgets. Representation. Autistic Pride Day is not a celebration of survival—it’s a blueprint for justice.”
• We Are Not Going Back
“We are done explaining ourselves. We’re done shrinking. We are not going back to invisibility. We are Autistic. We are proud. We are staying loud.”

2. Narrative Prompts

Use these for panels, storytelling sessions, workshops or speaker prep:

• “What does ‘unapologetically Autistic’ mean to you today—right now?”
• “Tell us about a time you stopped masking—and what changed.”
• “When did you realise your Autism was not the problem?”
• “What does safety mean to you as an Autistic person?”
• “Describe your pride. Is it quiet? Loud? Internal? Shared?”
• “What would a society built by Autistic people look like?”
• “What are you no longer willing to apologise for?”
• “If this event changed one thing in the world—what should it be?”

3. Role-Based Templates

🧑‍🏫 Moderator Opening
“Good morning. As your moderator, I’m here to centre lived experience, ensure accessibility, and keep us grounded in the theme: ‘Unapologetically Autistic.’ This space values different communication styles and prioritises inclusion over performance.”

🧑‍🎤 Performer/Storyteller Intro
“Our next speaker doesn’t need to conform to a template—they’ve lived it. Please welcome [Name], an Autistic advocate and creative who reminds us what resilience and brilliance look like.”

🎗️ Policy Launch Intro
“This is more than a document—it’s a demand for justice. We’re launching [Name of Policy/Initiative]—a step forward in embedding Autistic leadership and lived experience in public life.”

🧭 Land + Inclusion Acknowledgement

“We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we meet on, and the many Autistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose knowledge is foundational. We also acknowledge the Autistic people in this room—across all identities—and affirm this as your space.”

4. Language & Delivery Notes

• Use identity-first language unless told otherwise.
• Avoid terms like “suffering from autism” or “high/low functioning.”
• Offer flexible time slots and speaking formats.
• Accept AAC and visual communication.
• Always ask for speaker accessibility preferences in advance.
• Provide quiet spaces and rest breaks.

5. Youth Voice Section

For Young Autistic Speakers (Ages 12–25)
Use these messages to shape your voice, your way. Speak them out loud, or adapt for social posts, vlogs, poems, or zines.

Short Message Starters:

• “I’m not broken. I’m brilliant—in ways you didn’t expect.”
• “Being Autistic is not my limitation. It’s how I see the world—clearly, deeply, beautifully.”
• “I’m still learning to speak up. But I won’t apologise for who I am.”
• “You told me to be quiet. I’m here to be loud—and real.”
• “I want teachers who get it. Friends who listen. Adults who don’t talk over me.”

Youth Story Prompts:

• What’s one thing adults don’t understand about being an Autistic teen?
• When did you feel proud of your Autistic identity for the first time?
• What does inclusion at school actually look like for you?
• If you had a magic wand—what would change tomorrow?
• How would you redesign your school, community centre or youth service to be more Autistic-friendly?

6. Facilitator and Event Guide

🛠️ Session Starter Checklist

🎤 How to Brief Your Speakers

“We’re here to centre lived experience. You are not here to explain or justify. You are here to lead. You don’t have to speak perfectly, or perform. You just have to be honest, safe, and yourself.”

🧘 Holding Brave, Not Perfect, Space

Create safety through structure:
• Use clear time signals and prompts
• Remind panellists and audience that stimming is welcome
• Make land and Autistic acknowledgements standard
• Set boundaries for behaviour (e.g. no interruptions, respect diverse communication styles)

🔄 When It Goes Off Script

If a speaker becomes overwhelmed or needs a moment:
• Offer a pause or grounding exercise
• Validate: “Take your time—this is your space.”
• Have someone ready to gently guide or offer breaks without embarrassment

7. Customisation Tools

📝 Printable Cards

Create lanyard or palm cards with:
• Opening lines for nervous speakers
• Neuro-affirming affirmations
• Visual cue cards for transitions (e.g. “My Turn Next,” “I Need a Break”)

📽️ Video/Audio Demo Suggestions

Record sample introductions and speeches (with consent) featuring:
• Autistic adults of diverse backgrounds
• Young people speaking about school/pride
• Elders or carers reflecting on inclusion done well
Include subtitles, transcripts, and AAC-compatible formats.

8. Final Message: What This Toolkit Stands For

This toolkit is not the end. It’s your cue to disrupt, to demand, to dream louder.

It exists because:

• Autistic voices are not optional—they’re essential.
• Inclusion without safety is not inclusion.
• Pride without power is not enough.

Use this to build events that challenge, comfort, confront, and connect.
Use this to make space—and then step back.
Speak. Share. Shake the table.
We’re done waiting.

Let’s Think Autism—loudly, beautifully, unapologetically.