"Advocacy has let me be unique in my own way, and to help others find the strength to stand up too. I'm proud to sit on UNSW's GeneEQUAL board for intellectual disability research, attending meetings with them and helping out at Open Day by welcoming guests as they came in.

Through all of this, I've become a better person, both in Co-Hive and outside it. My goal is to show people who feel like they can't reach their potential that they can, with the right people around them."

I'm proud I was able to represent Co-Hive at a post-school expo, where I got the opportunity to share my story and talk to a wide variety of people. The Ambassador Leaders program gave me the chance to develop my advocacy skills through skill-building workshops and discussions, and helped me realise how passionate I am about inspiring change in people's lives.

‍Through focus groups and research panels, I've been able to actively make a difference in my community, and for disabled people more broadly. I hope to keep developing my leadership skills, particularly around advocacy, to help build a brighter future for neurodivergent people."

"Being part of the Co-Hive Ambassador Program has been an incredible experience. It gave me the confidence to speak at the Co-Hive Open Day about my disability and share my story, and I've grown so much since then, developing leadership skills and stepping outside my comfort zone in ways I never thought I could.

Most importantly, Co-Hive has made me feel like I'm part of a supportive community where I truly belong. Because of everything I've learned, I now feel confident enough to motivate and inspire others to speak up, share their own stories, and believe in themselves."

"I want to advocate for myself and for others. I've been able to do that by working with UNSW and SAS, co-writing policy documents, and even presenting on stage at the Disability Expo. It's helped me feel heard."

"Being an Ambassador has changed me so much and really boosted my confidence. I started out doubting myself and just asking questions all the time. Now I believe in myself, and I know I can speak up and know my own truth.

As Ambassadors we're all unique in our own way, and that's the message I try to get across to everyone. I've given speeches at Open Days, represented Co-Hive at community meetings, and been invited to a City of Sydney inclusive breakfast, where I got to talk with people from other organisations doing similar work. My advice to anyone starting out is to give things a go, because you never know what doors it can open for you."

"Being a Co-Hive Ambassador Leader has given me the confidence to share my story. I've developed a lot of new skills and met a lot of interesting people in the community, and wearing my Ambassador Leaders shirt makes me feel really connected to the Co-Hive community and the broader public.

‍I'm really proud of giving a speech with my mum on Open Day, and of representing Co-Hive at a school expo, where I spoke to parents and students about what Co-Hive does and how it's helped me grow as a leader. Talking with school leavers, I could show them there are so many opportunities out there for people with disability to gro

"Co-Hive Ambassador Leaders has given me the opportunity of a lifetime to excel in leadership, peer advocacy and helping others. Last year I gave an eight-minute public speech at a school, the first time I got to share my story about growing up with autism. I hope to inspire other neurodivergent people to advocate for themselves, and to learn public speaking too, so we can spread the word in the disability community.

‍The program has helped me, and in return, I want to help others."