Hi,

My name is Bridget Randawski and I'm an author, motivational speaker and autism awareness advocate. I'm also a part of the acclaimed "AutismWorks" project, and have created my own module on autism, and how it affects girls/women, called "Girls on the Spectrum".

It's funny seeing the direction my life has taken because initially, I didn't even know I had autism. I was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, so I just carried on with life assuming I was dull and social inept, developing my own coping mechanisms for various situations. It wasn't until my teenage years that therapists were able to accurately diagnose the underlying autistic condition and proper care could be afforded to me.

However, that was never enough. The fact remains that very few autism programs and campaigns are centered on girls and their problems; I was always subjected to a generalized approach which sounded good in theory but had no effect on me.

I just couldn't relate to the topics at hand because what I was going through felt vastly different from what was being talked about. Everything from puberty and periods to relationships and social interactions, everything that is inherently connected to girls were glossed over and rarely given a deeper look in the autism modules.

This wasn't intentional, or out of neglect but simply due to the fact that most people behind the programs just didn't know about the challenges faced by girls, nor had the capability to address the issues from a personal viewpoint. This was the reason I was determined to create an exclusive autism program for girls, and the fruits of my labor is "Girls on the Spectrum".

Developed to be a comprehensive module that is honest and talks specifically about issues related to women, I wanted "Girls on the Spectrum" to be a de-facto guide for girls across the world who have unique abilities but are lost due a lack of guidance.

With this program, you'll get answers to questions like

• How to overcome inherently built camouflage techniques one always resorts to as defensive mechanisms?  
• What to do if your daughter is misdiagnosed, and ensure that she's afforded the best care possible?
• How to develop life skills and take care of oneself for daily living like personal hygiene, travel, etc.?
• How to read body language, and look after one's safety?
• Ways to handle and cope with friendships, relationships and living alone..
• What does acceptance mean? Is there a way to improve confidence and self-esteem?    

A vital component of this program is a special module on school support and IEPs. Individualized Educational Programs are crucial to a child's education and requires a number of stakeholders to work together. IEPs allow for special services and accommodation that can extend beyond colleges, to after you begin working. This module will give you all the information on IEPs and how to ensure you acquire the best IEP possible for your child.

I believe that every girl on the autism spectrum is capable of leading an independent life and acquiring the best education/career possible. Their needs, and the obstacles they face, might be different from what is generally perceived in the community, but that in no way should act as a deterrent. All they need is a little guidance and someone who understands what they're going through. I hope the "Girls on the Spectrum" program helps them realize that they're not alone and that they too can soar to greater heights.

Even if you don't want to subscribe to our training program, please do take a look at "Girls on the Spectrum" collection of videos, and help spread awareness of this truly extraordinary program.

Thank you

Regards

Bridgette Randawski

Joanne Laurie    

I'll be honest with you, I didn't have much expectations initially while subscribing to Girls on the Spectrum. Frankly, I was tired of going through program after program related to autism hoping that my daughter's life would improve. Invariably though, every program resembled one another and none actually addressed the issues she faced. But within the first 10 minutes of GOTS, I knew this was different. Here was a woman with autism talking about stuff that my daughter, as a girl on the cusp of puberty, was experiencing on a daily basis. She was talking about relationships and romance, insecurity and loneliness, bullying and what not. My daughter finally connected with someone after a decade of not being understood. She felt Bridget knew her and what she was going through, more than even I did. Girls on the Spectrum also addresses a range of topics for a parent/caregiver like me, such as how to educate your child about hygiene, keeping her safe and teaching her how to handle various emotions; all of which I felt were deeply immersive and extremely helpful. I cannot recommend Girls on the Spectrum enough.

Jennifer Atherton

I can say with conviction that Girls on the Spectrum changed my daughter's life. Can you believe that for years they told me my daughter had ADD, behavioral issues, personality disorder and what not. This only deprived my daughter of the care and treatment that she is entitled to. It was only thanks to this module that my daughter's autism was correctly diagnosed and an effective IEP was framed. And what do you know, suddenly my daughter isn't slow, but capable of passing in every class and even exceeding expectations in many areas thanks to her unique abilities. I'm thankful to Bridgette and her team.

Jack Westwood

If you have a daughter with special abilities, or work with children on the autism spectrum like me, you've got to subscribe to this program. There's no question about it. The amount of information and insight offered by Bridget Randawski is unparalleled amongst the plethora of books and programs I've gone through in my three decades of being a therapist. She addresses issues that relate to girls specifically rather than the standard one size fits all approach, which I feel is a malaise affecting our field. Girls are different than boys, and the experiences they go through, especially during teenage years, just cannot be explained or understood by regular autism speakers. You need someone like Bridget who has grown up with autism herself to explain the finer nuances and offer guidance on how to overcome the various obstacles that a woman with special abilities will face. Even if you don't have a daughter, but only care for someone with autism or just work in the field, Girls on The Spectrum will deeply enrich you.