Acknowledgement And Welcome

James Dunn 0:08

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the lands on which we record, and especially to those who may also be living with a disability. Welcome to another episode where we will explore a variety of non-visible disabilities, the way in which people experience their disabilities, and discover the opportunities for society to make access and inclusion improvements that benefit everyone. Hi everyone, my name is James Dunn, and I'm your host. And like many of the guests on the Sunfire Conversations, I also live with disability, including myalgic encephalomyelitis, or commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. On today's show, I'm joined by Sophie Riggs. Sophie lives in Adelaide on the lands of the Gorna people. Sophie is 33 years old and lives with autism, but was not formally diagnosed specifically with autism until two years ago. Sophie also lives with a range of other conditions that often co-occur with autism, including Afrit, which stands for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, anorexia nervosa, fibromyalgia, and dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder. Sophie loves musical theatre and has appeared in films and on television. She also spent 12 months at the Disney College program in Orlando in her early 20s. She now works at the Adelaide Oval as a hidden disability sunflower support person during sporting events, including the AFL, cricket and music concerts. She is a passionate advocate for the Sunflower Initiative and helping so many people like herself who live with a non-visible disability or an illness. Sophie Riggs, welcome to the show.

Sophie Riggs 2:01

Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here.

James Dunn 2:03

It's great to see you again, Sophie. After I first met you in December last year at the Cricket in Adelaide when I came over for The Ashes. And I think it was your colleague Kathleen and yourself were helping people find the sunflower room at Adelaide Oval, which was an absolute godsend for me and I'm sure many others, and I honestly wouldn't have been able to come to the cricket without it. And it was great to meet you there and now see you again. So let's go back to I guess your early life and schooling. So how old were you when it was first suspected there might be something different about your neurodevelopment? And what did medical specialists say to your parents around that time?

Sophie Riggs 2:45

So the first time that we had any knowledge or was um spoken to was when I was actually at Kindi. Um so it's towards the end of my time at Kindi, and my one of my Kindi teachers came up to my parents and sat them down and had a chat. Um, and in that chat they suggested that we go and see someone. And uh we did. And in that time, I got diagnosed with OCD, dyslexia, and other learning difficulties, and also ADHD at the time.

James Dunn 3:24

Wow. So that's that would have been a lot to sort of take in. As a six-year-old, what were you told about that?

Sophie Riggs 3:31

Nothing. I was kept completely in the dark. Um, also because autism wasn't a thing back then. Um so whatever my parents were actually told, they didn't tell me anything. Because I think, you know, it's a shock when parents first find out, and they have a lot to learn as well in a very short amount of time.

James Dunn 3:58

Yeah, absolutely. I'm sure they were processing it and and trying to work out what it meant for you and and for them. So that's understandable. Uh so it was around about 12, so a few years later, when you were diagnosed with Asperges after you repeated year six at school. So, what was your understanding at that age about what that diagnosis meant if your parents shared that with you? And what challenges were you starting to experience at school at that time?

Sophie Riggs 4:24

I guess still not really didn't really have an understanding at all of anything at that time. Um, they did their assessments, they then kept me in the waiting room playing with things to keep me occupied and being able to fidget. Um, but I did come in towards the end of the conversation just so they could I guess honestly tell me, but everything they told me just sort of went over my head. So I never actually really took anything in at that point in time. Um, and I guess, you know, school was hard. Um because we didn't have an understanding. They certainly didn't have an understanding and didn't know how to be supportive in the way that I needed support. Um so that was difficult. I guess as were friendships and the lack thereof. Um things got a little bit better as I entered, I guess, high school. In regards to friendships, not school. I never liked school. It was yeah. It was a time in my life where I'm very happy to forget. And I don't say that lightly, and I don't say that very often about things, but it was not a nice experience.

James Dunn 6:02

It sounds like you said on the friendship side of things that did improve through the school, but in the classroom and connecting with teachers, what were some of the challenges you experienced there?

Sophie Riggs 6:12

Um, I guess concentration, understanding what was being said, being able to actually focus sometimes as well.

James Dunn 6:25

Yep.

Sophie Riggs 6:26

And also being able to process everything that was happening in the classroom, be it whatever was happening in front of me with what the teacher was saying, um, or with the distractions that were happening around the classroom at the time.

James Dunn 6:42

So that must have been incredibly overwhelming to have all those challenges in that classroom sitting. Do you think the teachers around you understood what you were struggling with?

Sophie Riggs 6:51

Not at all. And I can't say that they even really tried to try to understand either. Um I would say there was probably only I probably had two teachers in primary school who tried to get down on my level to actually try to understand and to help me. Um but otherwise the rest of school not really.

James Dunn 7:26

And those two teachers, what were they doing to try and help and and understand?

Sophie Riggs 7:31

Well, considering I'm someone who doesn't like to ask for help because that in itself I find quite difficult. Um those two so my year two teacher also actually had a sit-down conversation, I believe, with my parents as well. And by the time I hit year four, I did have s some sort of additional help, but not it wasn't really helpful, if that makes sense. It was sort of just sitting there and trying to do the work that we were given. And I never really felt that it was useful because I never really felt that I actually had the support from that support teacher.

James Dunn 8:21

So it sounds like at best there were a couple of teachers who were wanting to help, and they did go to the effort to sit down with yourself and your parents, but no one really had any sense of how to help.

Sophie Riggs 8:34

Correct. Absolutely.

James Dunn 8:37

That must have been really hard.

Sophie Riggs 8:39

I think it was. I think that's part of what made school difficult, especially when it came to actually being in class.

James Dunn 8:46

What sort of support do you think you needed from the school? Like what could have those teachers, if they knew how, what what sort of things could have they done to help in the classroom?

Sophie Riggs 8:56

I feel like it would have been a really good to have um first of all, a proper sit-down conversation and say, this is what everything is. At the moment, this is what we know and this is how it works. And these are the supports that Sophie may need. We can't tell you exactly because we don't know, we're still learning. But um also having maybe easier work. Um because again, the auditory the auditory and processing um made things a lot more difficult. As each year went up and I was well behind and didn't actually have a proper understanding of what I had to learn as I leveled up in school. Um having fidgets at the time would have been super duper helpful if they were not a thing. Um Yeah, I just maybe having support that was tailored more to me rather than to a generalized system. I think that's definitely back then is where, especially in SA, that's really where we fall behind. Um I mean, there's more support in school now, but definitely not enough. Um and the knowledge and understanding is still, I I wouldn't say quite a hundred percent there.

James Dunn 10:39

Yeah.

Sophie Riggs 10:39

To help with supporting kids with autism and other hidden disabilities.

James Dunn 10:45

Yeah, it sounds like there have been some incremental improvements over the years, as you said, uh students being able to have fit spinners and and other sort of comfort toys or things like that. And probably at hopefully at most schools, at least a genuine interest to try and help. But being able to actually help is also different, I guess. But hopefully there's been some progress. So if there was someone at school now, or a parent of a school age person who's listening to this who has autism and feels like they just don't fit in, what would you want to tell them?

Sophie Riggs 11:16

Look, you're gonna have many people in your life who are gonna be saying so many different things at you. So if anybody ever says no, you can't do that, or this isn't right and this is not how you behave, my advice from a person who doesn't like speaking up is basically just to I guess parents speak up for your kids and as for the being the kid in school, just be yourself, be who you are. If a teacher doesn't like it I mean it depends on you know what you do in class, but I don't know, that's a really difficult question because you know lots of people also lots of kids don't like school. Um and for those kids they are either generally homeschooled or if they're not homeschooled then they're kind of sort of just at home and just doing things. So I guess something that I've uh heard along the way is that lots of autistic people like to, you know, video gaming is something that's uh big or like building Lego things that keep your mind active. Um school is definitely not built for us. Yeah, definitely not built for us at all. And being able to we communicate differently, so being able to communicate and to do things that actually help us and stimulate us without deregulating us is hard in a normal, natural classroom.

James Dunn 13:26

Yeah, absolutely. And it sounds like you were seen as someone and and probably others as well in your situation who who just couldn't cope, as opposed to people recognizing that it was the environment itself that wasn't working for you and thinking about how can we change the environment to to suit you? And hopefully that will happen more going forward. But there's some great advice there, as you said, just trying to be yourself as much as possible and advocating if you can yourself, but also your parents or guardian doing that on your behalf and trying to make the situation as good as it can be. So, our mythbuster question, which we ask all of our podcast guests, what is the biggest misconception people have about people who live with autism?

Sophie Riggs 14:08

The biggest one to date would absolutely have to be someone looking at you going, you're not autistic. You don't look autistic.

James Dunn 14:17

Yeah.

Sophie Riggs 14:18

It it happens a lot. Um it happens more than I guess we would know as well. So yeah, that would probably be my answer would be people looking at us and going, you're not autistic, you don't look, you know, physically challenged.

James Dunn 14:40

Or, you know, you're not using medical aids or so essentially it's that old adage of judging a book by its cover.

Sophie Riggs 14:49

Oh, absolutely.

James Dunn 14:51

Don't do that, don't be judgmental. Because obviously, like with a lot of different disabilities, health conditions that people have, there's no two people who have exactly the same experience with that condition. So every person living with autism is different, has a different experience. And so, as you said, no one is going to look the same, act the same. So just being really open-minded, I guess, and curious is what you're suggesting, which is great. So musical theatre.

Sophie Riggs 15:18

Yes.

James Dunn 15:19

Onto a happy topic. We've left school and you wanted to pursue your passion of musical theater, which is awesome. Can you tell me about the the training you undertook and some of the experiences you had in your early years in in musical theater after school?

Sophie Riggs 15:35

Absolutely. So I actually started with um The Australian Girls Choir. That would have been my start-off when it came to singing, um, which is always a great way because that's a good way to be able to learn how to do harmonies and harmonizing. Um however, I was always a soprano, so I never actually got to do a whole heap of harmonizing. So that was a little bit tricky when it came to doing musicals. Um and I actually struggled in my favorite show that I did. I actually struggled because I had some harmonies that I actually couldn't do at all. Um they tried very hard to teach me how to do them. We did end up finding a way of just sort of singing that singing that section of that song, still sounding like there was a little bit of a harmony there. It's really hard.

James Dunn 16:39

What musical was that? And what and can you remember the song?

Sophie Riggs 16:42

Yeah, so um it was The Secret Garden, and I was playing Mary Lennox, and the song was Wick, um, and it was a song sung between the character Mary and the character Dickon.

James Dunn 16:57

Great. But it sounds like you got through it and you adjusted to be able to hit the notes they wanted you to, which is great. So, what is it about musical theater that you really enjoy and that really captures you?

Sophie Riggs 17:09

I really, really love the aspect of being able to tell a story. So being not being myself on stage is really difficult, but when you're a character and being another person, it's it's yeah, it's so much easier. And I love being transported to different worlds and of yeah, and different places.

James Dunn 17:37

Sort of escaping, yeah. Escaping reality for for short periods.

Sophie Riggs 17:42

I think so. I I would agree with that because that's what musical theatre was for me growing up was probably escapism.

James Dunn 17:50

That's great. And it's awesome that you've been able to continue to do that. And so you've also been an actor in films and on television. What do you love about those roles and how is that experience different to musical theater?

Sophie Riggs 18:03

Ooh, it's very different. But I love it. So something that I guess for me as an actor, I've always been a natural, like a natural actor and not an over-the-top actor. And that works better for film and television because you're not having to be, I guess, theatrical. Um yeah, so film and television is sort of easier because I mean it's easier in one sense, but it's harder in the other sense. Like when you're an extra on a film or television, you're still having to create a character. Um because obviously you don't specifically have a character. Whereas in you know, you're given when you do a musical, you're given a character to do. Um and you can lean into researching and learning about that character, which would is the same in film and TV when you have a role. Um and that's I guess kind of the best actors when it comes to their hard work and the hard yards, do all they can to research their character and to live, breathe, and feel the character, but also know how to turn it off as well once they're done. Um as far as you know, film and TV, you're on set for many hours, not always used. Um but the time framing for doing film and TV compared to doing professional musical is you know, the five-day week, Monday to Friday, occasionally Saturdays, um where musicals are literally they use the weekends and your day off would be a Monday or a Wednesday. Um which can be difficult to actually be like, I have a day off now. I can't actually forget what I have to do when I come back. Um but yeah. Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, I've I've enjoyed doing film and TV. It's great fun. Great fun.

James Dunn 20:39

That's awesome. So, in terms of the environment, does it sometimes get a little bit overwhelming? Because I'm imagining all sorts of takes and cuts and people, directors shouting and all this sort of thing. Is that what it's like in reality sometimes, or is it a bit more chill than that?

Sophie Riggs 20:56

No, you'd be right. There it there are times where it does get quite overwhelming. Um but I don't know. Somehow I managed to cope. I generally um when they hit cut, you know, would be generally we'd be at least halfway potentially through the take that we're doing. There has been one occasion where that hasn't happened. But it's all good.

James Dunn 21:59

How did this opportunity come about, and what work and other experiences did it involve over there?

Sophie Riggs 22:05

So it came about in a conversation that might. Mum and I had when I was probably about 16 um in the car, and I think I was just we were coming back home or going to an appointment. Um and I don't know how we actually got started talking about it, but somehow it ended up in a conversation we had. Um so it's something that she knew about, so it's the college program's been happening for a very, very, very long time.

James Dunn 22:38

Okay.

Sophie Riggs 22:39

Um and she actually said to me, I wish I had the opportunity to do it. Um but that wasn't to happen, so it was up to me. We are a full on Disney family, so it was up to me to be able to, you know, apply for it and be able to spend some time here. But yes, um so I ended up applying I done a move to Sydney and I had started at a college there, and towards the end of that time I applied the first time and I didn't I don't think I got an email back the first time or I got you know a no back the second time I got to the interview round here in Australia, which was in Sydney, um which is nice and then basically I got accepted but because of things that were happening with the college at the time and that I was potentially leaving it got it was a messy, complicated situation. Um I had to email Disney to pretty much say I'm really sorry. You know, this is the situation. Is it still possible to do the program or not? Um and it wasn't to be in 2015, but that's okay because I applied for the so that would have been 2014. So I applied in 2015 for 2016, went through everything again, um and got my acceptance email, which was a really beautiful day.

James Dunn 24:50

Absolutely, third time lucky.

Sophie Riggs 24:53

Yes, exactly. They say things things come in threes, and uh that was definitely correct when it came to my Disney experience. Um, but yeah, I finally got accepted. I went over there. I went through the first couple of weeks we had training and like we had a traditions class. So traditions is basically an orientation uh into the program and like the what to expect, and you know, that sort of stuff. That's where you get to meet Mickey for the first time, and then you split up into your like your groups of like where you're working, like your locations and things, um, and you eventually get your blue ID. Um which actually our blue IDs came in not with Mickey Mouse but with Tigger. I was like, hey, I love Tigger. Uh yeah, so do I. I'm like, I was happy with that. It's a good second choice option. Yeah. Um but yeah, like it's they make it traditions was made fun um and enjoyable, which was great. Um and then obviously we start our training. Um, and depending on your like your locations and your job, it depends on how many days you train for. You get a earning with ears ribbon, which goes with your uh name badge. Um and then once you've completed your training that gets removed. I kept it, I have it somewhere. I have a nice little memorabilia box from my time at Disney. Not with me at the moment, but um, but yeah, it was the first couple of weeks were great.

James Dunn 27:00

That would have been pretty exciting to be in that environment with so many people who were also really passionate about it and learning the characters. So, what happened after that? Were you a character in the park or how did it work?

Sophie Riggs 27:12

So I went I got accepted to be a character performer, and I went through all that training, and I went through everything that you have to do to be a character performer. And it was my second day of training just after lunch when they brought out our heads, and I I freaked out. As soon as I saw them, I freaked out. Um I got very anxious very quickly, very fast, and it became very noticeable to my trainers. Basically, the first thing they do is to actually for you to put the full head on, just so you get used to the feel and the idea and what it's like to be in it, and that's when I really freaked out. So I actually was very fortunate that one of my trainers came over and spoke to me and took me out and actually gave me a 10-minute, 10-15-minute private um session with the head.

James Dunn 28:18

Yep.

Sophie Riggs 28:20

Um, which was really nice. And I was able to get back in with the head for the rest of the session. Um, and they what they do at the beginning of that session is um charades. So basically it gives you the opportunity to to be animated.

James Dunn 28:35

How did that go?

Sophie Riggs 28:36

Things didn't go well after that. Um the charades was great, and I had a great time. I wish I was able to get a copy of that, because the only thing I got to do in the costume. But that's okay. The next day was signing, learning how to sign our characters, and that was a very different story. We learned the two most important signs that we had to do the first day, which is great because I was able to do that um with the trainers, and they had to try and calm me down and get me to just start breathing properly so I wouldn't actually like full-on pass out. Apparently, that's happened before as well. Uh, I came out of my costume and I was just like, it was hard.

James Dunn 29:24

It was very overwhelming.

Sophie Riggs 29:26

It was, it was.

James Dunn 29:28

Did they provide an opportunity to try and work through that in a different way to still be able to do the character role, or did they move on?

Sophie Riggs 29:34

Not after that day, they decided after that day because it was the second time where I had freaked out, but like I'd really freaked out and I was really panicking and struggling to breathe at that point when they decided maybe we need to place you elsewhere for my own health and mental sake. And I was like, fine, I get that.

James Dunn 29:58

That must have been really hard though, because obviously that had been your goal to be part of that. And I mean, were there other characters that you felt maybe might have worked a little better, or was there some way that you could see it being done differently?

Sophie Riggs 30:11

Absolutely, but unfortunately you have to be able to do, as they're called now, sculptured characters to be able to continue on to do face characters. So the face characters would have been fine, but you need to also learn how to do the sculptured characters as well.

James Dunn 30:27

It sounds like they didn't really sort of adjust their expectations about how you could perform these roles or maybe more limited roles rather than what other people would typically do. Which is disappointing.

Sophie Riggs 30:40

It is a little bit. Um, you know, it's hard when I found out that three months almost two months into my program that when I broke my finger at the location that I was placed on afterwards, um, that they'd lost all my medical records. Like that was that in itself was actually difficult because I was like, I'm sending everything through that you've asked, and like it's coming from Australia. It's not like I can go home and email it the next day, sort of thing. But look, it was what it was. It was a learning experience. It was a very big learning experience. I learned very quickly that I had to grow up very fast all by myself because I didn't have support. I didn't have my family there, I didn't have any medical help there, like my care team that I know. It was a very big step.

James Dunn 31:37

Absolutely. Yeah. Well, it sounds like it must have been really challenging to be away from that care network for such a long time and in such a difficult environment. Did they move you to a different role for the remainder of your time there? How did that work?

Sophie Riggs 31:51

Yeah, so I got placed into food and beverage, which wasn't my ideal place or situation to be in. Um, I did actually ask my trainer if it was possible or if I could stay in entertainment and do character minding, as we call it here, because that was actually next on my list. But unfortunately, the call was already made before he was able to speak to the person making the call. You know, at the time I thought it's really it's a bit unfortunate and it's also a little bit unfair because not knowing that they'd lost my medical records at this point in time, I'm like, they're putting me in a place in a situation which actually isn't good for me.

James Dunn 32:38

Yeah.

Sophie Riggs 32:39

Anyway, I ended up breaking my finger after starting the process to move locations. Um, so they got the moving locations got put on hold because I broke my finger. And I had about four weeks off, I think, in um light duty is what they call it. And that's actually where for me the next part of my program started. So I did two locations in that time in two different parts. So I worked in Epcot for two weeks, which was really nice, actually. And I really enjoyed that. And I worked in Hollywood Studios. In studios, I was cleaning 3D glasses from starters, which was, you know, hey, I was still in Disney, I was still working, it was behind the scenes, but I guess I enjoyed it. There was cool music on most of the time, so it was fun. Um and like, you know, every, I don't know, every hour or every two hours, I'd meet a new person because they're in a rotation shift. After my chaos that happened in the first three months, I got moved to a different job and location, which for me I would say is actually where my program officially started. Um, I ended up um in the Magic Kingdom on Main Street doing parade audience control, as it was called at the time. And yeah, I just I from there on I had the best time and I very much enjoyed myself. One thing I will say now, though, is that I enjoyed working with the company. It was great. I have no regrets because even what happened in the first three months, it's all learning, it's all growing up.

James Dunn 34:28

Yep.

Sophie Riggs 34:29

It's all becoming an adult.

James Dunn 34:31

It sounds like that was a bit of a roller coaster ride, and you had some some highs. Absolutely. Particularly sort of at the very beginning and and and throughout, but some lows as well. And but it was a huge learning experience, which you then took, I guess, to your next role, because you went to the UK after that, didn't you? And worked over there. What did that look like? What was your role there?

Sophie Riggs 34:51

So I worked in Madame Two Swords over in the UK, and I started off as an operations person. And I started my first shift was inside on the lifts. So the lifts that take people up, obviously, to the other levels, and then mostly otherwise on the doors. Um I didn't enjoy being on the doors. Because we were out on the streets. There was two doors which were good to work at, and it was just the draw of the luck who got the doors.

James Dunn 35:26

Are these the front doors to the whole complex that it's it's near the River Thames, isn't it?

Sophie Riggs 35:32

Not quite. So the River Thames holds all the other Merlin attractions. Um Baker Street is where um Madame Two Swords is.

James Dunn 35:40

Yeah, yeah. Okay.

Sophie Riggs 35:42

Yeah. Look, it was an experience. I then got moved into entertainment there, which I absolutely enjoyed and loved. My favorite part about working in entertainment was doing the Sherlock Holmes experience. That was that was my favorite part of entertainment there.

James Dunn 35:58

Oh wow, that sounds awesome. And so that experience was generally pretty good, or were there any sort of challenges in your time at Manager Swords?

Sophie Riggs 36:06

Every job that I have worked in has had challenges and difficulties.

James Dunn 36:11

Yeah.

Sophie Riggs 36:12

Nothing has been easy. As I said, I really like working in Sherlock Holmes.

James Dunn 36:17

Yeah, that's great.

Sophie Riggs 36:19

They were my favorite days.

James Dunn 36:21

Yeah, that's good. What do you think employers sometimes misunderstand about employees living with autism? And how do you think they could be more supportive?

Sophie Riggs 36:30

Look, again, I think it's just some employees don't necessarily want to accept the challenge of working with people who have hidden disabilities. I guess just because they don't know how they're going to go on the like on the days that they're at work and as far as, you know, supports and things that you need at those locations, like people can be funny about that. Um and I have experienced that in my time.

James Dunn 37:00

Yeah, I'm sure. So people just need to, I guess, be open to having that conversation initially, isn't it? It's about understanding how how do things need to work here, what sort of adjustments can we make that will make a big difference to you. Sounds like some people don't even get to that point, um, some employers, which would be good if we could get everybody there. Um start the conversation. Because then I think a lot of people would be comfortable making some you know some most of the adjustments that would be needed if they just had the conversation.

Sophie Riggs 37:30

Agreed.

James Dunn 37:31

We're making some progress there, I think, but obviously a long way to go. So in addition to your challenges living with autism, can you share a bit about each of your other health conditions that you have and and how they impact you on a day-to-day basis?

Sophie Riggs 37:44

Sure. So I guess for me, currently at the moment, my biggest thing that actually is affecting me is my pots. About four weeks ago, six weeks technically, when it started, I got a really bad toothache. And it was consistent and persistent. And it took a lot longer than it should have to actually get that issue fixed, but in that process, it actually brought up my alfid, my pots, my anxiety. Um and it's taken a very, very long time for those things to balance out since then. I'm still finding I went from every second day to basically every day something not being right. Um I've had a couple of good days recently, so I'm very grateful for that. Um although they've been challenging in other ways, but but yeah, so obviously my pots has really made it has made it quite tricky to get out of bed early in the mornings. Um my outfit also doesn't help that either because the eating thing is just it just doesn't work at the fibre's been playing up as well, but it's actually eased off recently, which is nice. But um that is hard because of the pain, the muscular pain that it causes um in the hands. And the last time I had it, I actually had it in a lower part of my legs where I've actually never had fibro pain before at all. So um, yeah, that was a challenge.

James Dunn 39:42

Yeah, it sounds like you've got a lot of challenges that you're trying to manage there. And I have pots as well, and yeah, that's a big one on a day-to-day basis, isn't it? In terms of the the energy levels you have, your ability to stand upright, move around, um, expend energy is is challenging. So yeah, can relate to that. And I I mean I hadn't appreciated the extent to which autism can co-occur with quite a wide range of other conditions. Um I think for some of these they're actually quite common and and co-occur, is that right?

Sophie Riggs 40:13

Correct. Um, like POTS is one of those things, and I I didn't know that until I found out I had POTS.

James Dunn 40:21

No, I didn't know that until I met you.

Sophie Riggs 40:24

Also, APID is the eating disorder that is commonly occurred with autism, followed also by the anorexia nervosis is also very much um is common with people in who have autism.

James Dunn 40:43

Yep.

Sophie Riggs 40:43

Um, obviously, anxiety, panic attacks, all of that stuff. It's all there.

James Dunn 40:51

Well, thank you for sharing all the detail about those conditions and giving myself and our listeners um a better understanding of you know what your experience is like on a day-to-day basis. It's it sounds incredibly challenging having to navigate not just some of the challenges of living with autism, but several other health conditions alongside it. So moving on to the sunflower, which is a real positive again in your life along with the the musical theatre and the acting. When did you first discover the sunflower and what do you like about the initiative?

Sophie Riggs 41:20

I first discovered the sunflower. I reckon it would have been about 22. I reckon it was when um the segment on uh I think it was on channel seven, channel seven or channel nine news. Um that was when I first heard about Sunflower, and I was very much I want to get straight onto the initiative because being able to have sunflower and the recognition that you know this person has a hidden disability has been quite an improvement of me being able to get out of the house. Right. Um on the daily. Um I've probably done that once or twice, and I felt very bare and naked on the top here because I'm like, no, I don't have my lanyard. Um usually I'd have a spare in my backpack and they just didn't that day. And I was like, oh, of course I didn't. Um but yeah, I love the initiative. I think it's I think it's great, and it's especially really helpful um when going to airports.

James Dunn 42:39

Yeah.

Sophie Riggs 42:40

Um being able to have, you know, the assistance a bit better than what used to happen has been really good. And it um it's great that it's clear to the airport staff as well.

James Dunn 42:57

Yeah, the airports for me as well are the um environment that I use it most in because they're just incredibly challenging environments for so many people for so many different reasons, and they are very overwhelming. What sort of support do you get at the airport?

Sophie Riggs 43:11

So it's mostly for me, it's mostly if I'm traveling all by myself, my mum does actually um ask for assistance, so like we check-in and going through the gate. But for me, my assistance mainly is with pre-boarding and getting on the plane, having that small conversation as you enter the plane with the cabin crew um is also really helpful and really good to know that they're there for you if you need them. I love the fact that you know the aviation staff are all having good training um, which has made flying slightly easier and slightly better, I guess. Um and the fact that airports are now getting sensory space. Is fantastic.

James Dunn 44:10

Yeah.

Sophie Riggs 44:10

I love that. I have been into the Monarch Adelaide Airport. It is nice and calming and it does help to ease that anxiety just a little bit.

James Dunn 44:19

Yeah. And all these things that they're doing all help when you combine them all and to help it, you know, a little bit in their own way. And I think at the very least, even just knowing that staff in the airport and on the airlines are there to be able to help you if you need it. I mean, I'm sure it's still not your most, you know, favoured experience going to airports and flying. But knowing that there are people there that, you know, have got your back must help a little bit with the answer.

Sophie Riggs 44:48

So it absolutely does help a little bit. It still doesn't help the fact that I get anxious enough to, you know, either cry everything out or to just internally feel unwell. But you know, it's all good.

James Dunn 45:00

I could see when I met you at the Adelaide Oval in December last year that you really enjoy working there. So what does your role involve there and what is it about the role that you enjoy so much?

Sophie Riggs 45:12

So at Adelaide Oval, we are event day staff, but we are event day staff for the Sunflower team. And uh basically our role there is to basically be there for people who need us. Um, we get the opportunity to walk around the oval and the opportunity to actually speak to people, and it's really great. It doesn't happen as much now because people know more about the sunflower. Um, unless they're coming from interstate. It's also good because you're not having those sort of questions that you don't really want to answer from people who are silly when they see the sunflower. Still happens a little bit, but that's okay. Um, but yeah, so our role is basically just to be the support and to be the person who's there to speak to and also to usher to our lovely new sensory space.

James Dunn 46:12

Well, that's the role I saw you doing, and that's when I first met you, helping me to find the sensory space, which is fantastic. And yeah, as I said earlier, made a big difference to my experience there. And so, in terms of you as an employee at Adelaide Oval, what is it about that that environment that's so inclusive and supportive for you as a team member?

Sophie Riggs 46:34

So I love working at Adelaide Oval because I believe wholeheartedly, first of all, it's the best location and role and job that I've actually ever worked at. Disney comes a close second. Um as far as inclusivity, they're very open to everything. Their biggest thing is they want to be able to make Adelaide Oval as inclusive and diverse as they possibly can, and also to do that as well within their work and the jobs that they do, which is great. And I really love that. I love working at Adelaide Oval. And for me personally, I love the fact that I am able to be seen, heard, acknowledged, and understood. And if I'm having a bad day, you know, I see the staff when I go in and they can they can tell straight away. They can tell straight away. Um and if it's not a great day, you know, they'll come in and check on on me, they'll make sure that I'm okay. Um if I need anything, they're more than happy to assist with that. And it's been really, really good. Um it's also been it's been the difficult thing about it is being having to actually tell them everything because that's what I really struggle with, to be honest. Telling people things. Um so for me that was every time something new was coming up, so like when parts came up, um I actually emailed in saying, um you know, things haven't been good recently. I need to sit down and have a meeting with you guys about something new that's come up. Um and they were all there for me. Um they were supportive, they were, you know, they're very much happy to accommodate my needs. Um like if I need a day off, they're more than happy to, you know, accept that. Or if I need to go into the sensory space, take some time off from where I currently am, you know. They're they're very much saying whenever you need breaks, whatever you need to do, just do it. Um, you know, and if you need help, please make sure that you come and tell us. That's the part I struggle with.

James Dunn 49:24

But it sounds like it's getting easier to do because they're so receptive. They are. So that's fantastic to hear, Sophie, that you're enjoying it so much there and they're so supportive. So we've got a great question through from a member of our podcast community who says, I'm in college and I want to bring a comfort item without feeling embarrassed. Do you have any tips?

Sophie Riggs 50:02

Look, I personally didn't do that when I went to college. I, in saying that, I have a soft toy that I've had from the day that I was born. His name is Jerry. He's a giraffe. Unfortunately, he didn't come into college classes with me, but he did come with me when I travel interstate and internationally. Um I guess I was personally, I probably was too embarrassed to bring in, like to bring him into places. I wish I had now. I think he really would have helped because at the time we didn't have fidgets, so he would have been a great support. Um I guess for me, I fidgeted with my clothes, so like my sleeves. Um, I wasn't a chewer though. Um I was a sucker. I sucked my thumb a lot growing up. So that was probably, I think for me, that was also a comfort thing as well. Um but yeah, going through college, I feel like if you're someone who really, really needs it, absolutely take it in. You know, you don't need to explain yourself. You just need to be you and who you are. And people are gonna judge because people are people. But if it's something that you need to help you to get through your day, I would say go ahead and do it.

James Dunn 51:33

That's a great tip, Sophie. Yeah. So hopefully our listener gets comfort from that. And as you said, I think these days it's probably something that you feel you would do, um, or if you had your time again, you would do, just to make yourself feel comfortable. So yeah, that's great. So always our final question, in addition to some of the examples, the many examples you've already provided and some of the tips you've provided, what's one small change that individuals or organizations could make tomorrow to improve the lives of people living with autism or any other non-visible disability or health challenge?

Sophie Riggs 52:06

I think the first thing really is to listen. To listen to people's like needs and I guess, especially in a work environment, accommodations. Um and to, you know, just small adjustments. Nothing has to be big at the beginning, but just small adjustments to help uh people get through their shift or their time at work. Um schools could be the same, you know, just small little things to help the kids along as they go along their day. Um because at the end of the day, it's the small things that make the biggest wins for us. So I guess small steps make a big difference.

James Dunn 52:54

Absolutely. That is yeah, a wonderful piece of advice uh for pi for people and organizations because you're absolutely right. If they listen to start with and then just make a few small adjustments, it will make a big difference. So yeah, that's great. Well, thanks so much for coming on the show today, Sophie. It's been great to chat with you about your experiences living with autism and other conditions, and I'm sure that there'll be many people in our podcast community who will be able to relate to a lot of what you've shared today. And all the best for your sunfire role at the Adelaide Oval. Um, I know I've really appreciated the role that's provided there. So thank you so much for all you do there and helping people with non-visible disabilities. So thanks a lot.

Sophie Riggs 53:41

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

James Dunn 53:44

Thank you for joining us for another Sunflower Conversation. Please keep the conversation going via our website, hdsunflower.com forward slash AU, on Facebook at Hidden DisabilitiesANZ, on Instagram at hidden disabilities underscore ANZ, and on LinkedIn at Hidden Disabilities Sunflower-Australia and New Zealand. You can also visit our website if your organization or an organization you know is interested in becoming a Sunflower member. If you would like to submit a question for one of our guests to answer on a future episode, please direct message us on socials or email us at H D S events at Bailey House. That's B-A-Y-L-E-Y-H-O-U-S E dot org.au. Please help, have patience, show kindness to others, and join us again soon, making the invisible visible with the hidden disabilities sunflower.