From Selective Mutism to Social Impact: The Journey of an Autistic Founder
Tracks
Monarch - In-Person & OnAIR
| Monday, September 28, 2026 |
| 2:45 PM - 3:05 PM |
| Monarch Room |
Overview
Keeley Johnson, Keeleys Cause
Key Learnings
1. Wellbeing improves when inclusion is prioritised over compliance, with environments adapting to neurodivergent needs rather than expecting individuals to mask or conform.
2. Assistive technology and tailored learning approaches can enable communication, regulation, and confidence, particularly in inclusive classroom and community settings.
3. Lived experience can be transformed into meaningful social impact, demonstrated through founding and leading a charity that responds directly to unmet neurodivergent needs.
Speaker
Miss Keeley Johnson
Founder
Keeleys Cause
From Selective Mutism to Social Impact: The Journey of an Autistic Founder
Presentation Overview
From Selective Mutism to Social Impact: An Autistic Founder’s Story
This presentation shares the lived journey of an autistic woman who experienced selective mutism, bullying, low confidence, and significant barriers within mainstream education, and how those experiences shaped her pathway into leadership, advocacy, and social impact.
Drawing on personal experience, Keeley explores how exclusion, misunderstanding, and unsupported classrooms negatively impact autistic wellbeing and how inclusive environments, tailored learning approaches, and the thoughtful use of assistive technology can transform engagement, communication, and confidence.
Rather than focusing solely on adversity, this session highlights what worked: classrooms that adapted to individual learning needs, educators who embraced flexible communication methods, and technology that supported participation rather than compliance.
Keeley connects these experiences to her work founding Keeley’s Cause, a national charity supporting autistic and intellectually disabled children through access to assistive technology and inclusive education.
Delegates will gain practical insights into:
• how inclusive classrooms support wellbeing through choice, flexibility, and understanding
• the role of technology in enabling communication, regulation, and individualised learning
• why lived experience leadership is critical in designing meaningful neurodivergent supports
This session challenges deficit-based narratives and invites educators, clinicians, and community leaders to reflect on how everyday decisions, particularly around learning design and technology.
It can either limit or unlock neurodivergent potential.
It offers a grounded, hopeful perspective on wellbeing, inclusion, and social impact, led by lived experience.
This presentation shares the lived journey of an autistic woman who experienced selective mutism, bullying, low confidence, and significant barriers within mainstream education, and how those experiences shaped her pathway into leadership, advocacy, and social impact.
Drawing on personal experience, Keeley explores how exclusion, misunderstanding, and unsupported classrooms negatively impact autistic wellbeing and how inclusive environments, tailored learning approaches, and the thoughtful use of assistive technology can transform engagement, communication, and confidence.
Rather than focusing solely on adversity, this session highlights what worked: classrooms that adapted to individual learning needs, educators who embraced flexible communication methods, and technology that supported participation rather than compliance.
Keeley connects these experiences to her work founding Keeley’s Cause, a national charity supporting autistic and intellectually disabled children through access to assistive technology and inclusive education.
Delegates will gain practical insights into:
• how inclusive classrooms support wellbeing through choice, flexibility, and understanding
• the role of technology in enabling communication, regulation, and individualised learning
• why lived experience leadership is critical in designing meaningful neurodivergent supports
This session challenges deficit-based narratives and invites educators, clinicians, and community leaders to reflect on how everyday decisions, particularly around learning design and technology.
It can either limit or unlock neurodivergent potential.
It offers a grounded, hopeful perspective on wellbeing, inclusion, and social impact, led by lived experience.
Biography
Keeley Johnson is an autistic advocate, speaker, and founder of Keeley’s Cause, a national charity supporting autistic and intellectually disabled children through access to inclusive education and assistive technology.
Once a child who experienced selective mutism, bullying, school exclusion, high anxiety and low self-confidence,
Keeley now leads a growing movement grounded in lived experience and wellbeing.
Her work challenges deficit-based narratives of autism and demonstrates what is possible when inclusion, understanding, and the right supports are in place.
Keeley’s story is one of resilience, empowerment, and creating social impact through authentic leadership.
