Poetry workshop series for over 30s with late-diagnosed or self-diagnosed autism

Are you autistic or are currently exploring self-diagnosis of autism?

Are you over 30?

Are you interested in writing together with people of similar experience?

Join us for a new 6 week Tuesday evening workshop series with Louise Wallwein.

We are excited to introduce a new workshop series run by poet Louise Wallwein for people over 30 with late-diagnosed or self-diagnosed autism. The workshop series will run on Tuesdays 6pm-8pm from 18^th June – 23^rd July at Manchester Poetry Library at Manchester Metropolitan University.

These workshops will continue the Neurodivergent Programme at Manchester Poetry Library, with a new focus on over 30s. We’re also limiting this workshop to autistic adults, as evaluation from other projects, and from members of the community, suggested that it is helpful to also offer workshops for specific experiences. We welcome feedback on this, but hope that this group will feel more accessible to people who haven’t attended workshops with us before.

The workshops will be facilitated and designed by Louise Wallwein. Louise, having been recently diagnosed as autistic herself, felt like there was a real excitement for community but lack of resource for people diagnosed, or exploring self-diagnosis, in adulthood. She wanted to combine this with her experienced practise as a poet and facilitator.

Louise Wallwein MBE is a Poet and Playwright whose work has been performed on shorelines, the sea, the streets, on the wing of a WWII Shackleton aircraft and in theatres across the UK and the world. Her work has been presented on BBC One and BBC Radio and her projects have been produced by National Theatre Wales, Royal Exchange Theatre, Walk The Plank, BAC, Z Arts, HOME, Contact and Red Ladder. Her critically acclaimed, theatre demolishing one-woman show GLUE is published by SmithDoorstop. She has taught in communities across the North, and has completed residencies around the world, working with thousands of people to develop their voice. Her approach is fearless.

If you’d like to apply please fill out this short form with your details, including an opportunity to tell us about your access needs. We’re reserving seven of the fifteen places for Hulme Residents.

Timeline:

Applications open:  3^rd June

Applications close:  15^th June

Applicants receive confirmation of acceptance:  14^th June

First session begins:  18^th June

You can find out what we’re currently doing to make ourselves accessible: here

Please contact r.havers@mmu.ac.uk if you have any questions, or if you would like to complete your application in another way.