Disability advocate
Disability advocate
Karen McEwan
Karen McEwan
Advocacy, education, and lived experience to improve disability inclusion.
I am a late-diagnosed Autistic person with lived experience of multiple and interconnected disabling conditions.
My disabilities aren’t always apparent to others or reflected in what people expect disability to look like.
This gives me a lived experience perspective on disability, accessibility, equity, and how we can create more inclusive communities and remove barriers across workplaces, education, healthcare, and services.
I am interested in further advocacy opportunities and ways to contribute to Autism and Disability projects. I am also available to provide a lived experience perspective for neurodiversity activities.
I am a late-diagnosed Autistic person with lived experience of multiple and interconnected disabling conditions.
My disabilities aren’t always apparent to others or reflected in what people expect disability to look like.
This gives me a lived experience perspective on disability, accessibility, equity, and how we can create more inclusive communities and remove barriers across workplaces, education, healthcare, and services.
I am interested in further advocacy opportunities and ways to contribute to Autism and Disability projects. I am also available to provide a lived experience perspective for neurodiversity activities.
Current roles and projects
Current roles and projects
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) AuNZ — Board
Board Member and Membership Engagement Advisory Group member. I was invited to join the Board following recommendations from within ASAN AUNZ, recognising my skills and experience in advocacy, governance, and lived experience work. Through the MEAG, I contribute an NT perspective to strengthening membership and engagement.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) AuNZ — Board
Board Member and Membership Engagement Advisory Group member. I was invited to join the Board following recommendations from within ASAN AUNZ, recognising my skills and experience in advocacy, governance, and lived experience work. Through the MEAG, I contribute an NT perspective to strengthening membership and engagement.
Autism NT Board — Secretary
Contribute to governance, organisational direction, strategic planning, and advocacy, bringing Autistic lived expertise and a contemporary, neuroaffirming perspective.
Autism NT Board — Secretary
Contribute to governance, organisational direction, strategic planning, and advocacy, bringing Autistic lived expertise and a contemporary, neuroaffirming perspective.
Autism NT Autistic Advisory Group
Leading the development of a structured way for Autistic Territorians to provide feedback and help inform programs, services, and advocacy priorities.
Autism NT Autistic Advisory Group
Leading the development of a structured way for Autistic Territorians to provide feedback and help inform programs, services, and advocacy priorities.
Autism NT — Volunteer
Volunteer across a range of Autism NT projects, resources, community activities, and organisational initiatives, providing practical support and lived experience input where needed.
Autism NT — Volunteer
Volunteer across a range of Autism NT projects, resources, community activities, and organisational initiatives, providing practical support and lived experience input where needed.
NT Government Disability Advisory Committee
Provide lived experience advice to the NT Government Minister for Disabilities and Office of Disabilities on policy, services, inclusion, and advocacy needs affecting disabled Territorians.
NT Government Disability Advisory Committee
Provide lived experience advice to the NT Government Minister for Disabilities and Office of Disabilities on policy, services, inclusion, and advocacy needs affecting disabled Territorians.
National Autistic Peer Governance Group — National Autism Strategy
Provide Autistic lived experience and governance input to the Improving Social Connections project under the National Autism Strategy, led by Aspect with Reframing Autism, including bringing an NT, regional, and remote perspective.
National Autistic Peer Governance Group — National Autism Strategy
Provide Autistic lived experience and governance input to the Improving Social Connections project under the National Autism Strategy, led by Aspect with Reframing Autism, including bringing an NT, regional, and remote perspective.
NDIA Participant Reference Group (PRG)
Provide lived experience input and consultation across NDIS policy, strategy, participant engagement, and future initiatives, offering feedback and advice from a participant perspective.
NDIA Participant Reference Group (PRG)
Provide lived experience input and consultation across NDIS policy, strategy, participant engagement, and future initiatives, offering feedback and advice from a participant perspective.
Autism SA — Autistics’ Guide to Adulthood Review
Contribute Autistic lived experience and professional financial counselling expertise to reviewing and updating accessible learning resources for Autistic adults, including developing new financial wellbeing content.
Autism SA — Autistics’ Guide to Adulthood Review
Contribute Autistic lived experience to the review of the guide, including using professional Financial Counselling expertise to assist with developing a new finances module.
Autism SA — Autistics’ Guide to Adulthood Review
Contribute Autistic lived experience and professional financial counselling expertise to reviewing and updating accessible learning resources for Autistic adults, including developing new financial wellbeing content.
Charles Darwin University — Autistic Lived Experience
Contribute lived experience expertise to professional education about Autism, including neuroaffirming practice and the experiences of Autistic adults.
Charles Darwin University — Autistic Lived Experience
Contribute lived experience expertise to professional education about Autism, including neuroaffirming practice and the experiences of Autistic adults.
Employment - Financial Counsellor, Community Services
Nearly 10 years’ experience in financial counselling, including complex individual and systemic advocacy with financial institutions, government agencies, regulators, and other organisations, supporting people experiencing financial hardship and disadvantage.
Employment - Financial Counsellor, Community Services
Nearly 10 years’ experience in financial counselling, including complex individual and systemic advocacy with financial institutions, government agencies, regulators, and other organisations, supporting people experiencing financial hardship and disadvantage.
Previous consultations and contributions
Previous consultations and contributions
NT Disability Strategy and Action Plan
Contributed lived experience feedback to the NT Government Office of Disability for the review of the Disability Strategy Action Plan 2025–2029, with a focus on disability inclusion across the Territory.
NT Disability Strategy and Action Plan
Contributed lived experience feedback to the NT Government Office of Disability for the review of the Disability Strategy Action Plan 2025–2029, with a focus on disability inclusion across the Territory.
NT Disability Strategy and Action Plan
Contributed lived experience feedback to the NT Government Office of Disability for the review of the Disability Strategy Action Plan 2025–2029, with a focus on disability inclusion across the Territory.
Palmerston Secondary Specialist Education School — Expert Design Advisory Group
Provided disability lived experience input into the design for the new specialist education facility, with a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and the practical needs of students and families.
Palmerston Secondary Specialist Education School — Expert Design Advisory Group
Provided disability lived experience input into the design for the new specialist education facility, with a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and the practical needs of students and families.
Palmerston Secondary Specialist Education School — Expert Design Advisory Group
Provided disability lived experience input into the design for the new specialist education facility, with a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and the practical needs of students and families.
City of Palmerston Disability Inclusion and Access Plan Review
Provided lived experience feedback on disability inclusion planning, including disability‑affirming language and stronger accountability for the City’s ongoing access and inclusion work.
City of Palmerston Disability Inclusion and Access Plan Review
Provided lived experience feedback on disability inclusion planning, including disability‑affirming language and stronger accountability for the City’s ongoing access and inclusion work.
City of Palmerston Disability Inclusion and Access Plan Review
Provided lived experience feedback on disability inclusion planning, including disability‑affirming language and stronger accountability for the City’s ongoing access and inclusion work.
Knowmore Disability & Inclusion Strategy
Provided feedback on contemporary disability terminology, the Human Rights Model of Disability, and explicit recognition of neurodiversity within Knowmore’s draft Disability & Inclusion Strategy.
Knowmore Disability & Inclusion Strategy
Provided feedback on contemporary disability terminology, the Human Rights Model of Disability, and explicit recognition of neurodiversity within Knowmore’s draft Disability & Inclusion Strategy.
Knowmore Disability & Inclusion Strategy
Provided feedback on contemporary disability terminology, the Human Rights Model of Disability, and explicit recognition of neurodiversity within Knowmore’s draft Disability & Inclusion Strategy.
NDIA media program
Participated in videos and promotional material sharing participant lived experience, encouraging NDIS participants to contribute their perspectives and take part in future engagement.
NDIA media program
Participated in videos and promotional material sharing participant lived experience, encouraging NDIS participants to contribute their perspectives and take part in future engagement.
NDIA media program
Participated in videos and promotional material sharing participant lived experience, encouraging NDIS participants to contribute their perspectives and take part in future engagement.
National Autism Strategy consultations
Contributed Autistic lived experience through direct Australian Government consultation and consultation with Amaze and Reframing Autism, helping inform the development and implementation of the National Autism Strategy.
National Autism Strategy consultations
Contributed Autistic lived experience through direct Australian Government consultation and consultation with Amaze and Reframing Autism, helping inform the development and implementation of the National Autism Strategy.
National Autism Strategy consultations
Contributed Autistic lived experience through direct Australian Government consultation and consultation with Amaze and Reframing Autism, helping inform the development and implementation of the National Autism Strategy.
ABC Radio — Autistic Lived experience
Shared an Autistic lived experience perspective in an ABC Radio interview, discussing the impact of harmful public narratives and misinformation about Autism on Autistic people.
ABC Radio — Autistic Lived experience
Shared an Autistic lived experience perspective in an ABC Radio interview, discussing the impact of harmful public narratives and misinformation about Autism on Autistic people.
ABC Radio — Autistic Lived experience
Shared an Autistic lived experience perspective in an ABC Radio interview, discussing the impact of harmful public narratives and misinformation about Autism on Autistic people.
Autism NT Fundraising Luncheon — Guest Lived Experience Speaker
Invited guest speaker at Autism NT’s 2023 fundraising luncheon, sharing my experience of late Autism diagnosis and an Autistic lived experience perspective with the Darwin community.
Autism NT Fundraising Luncheon — Guest Lived Experience Speaker
Invited guest speaker at Autism NT’s 2023 fundraising luncheon, sharing my experience of late Autism diagnosis and an Autistic lived experience perspective with the Darwin community.
Autism NT Fundraising Luncheon — Guest Lived Experience Speaker
Invited guest speaker at Autism NT’s 2023 fundraising luncheon, sharing my experience of late Autism diagnosis and an Autistic lived experience perspective with the Darwin community.
Recognition
NT Government Disability Inclusion Awards 2026— Highly Commended
Highly Commended in the NT Government Disability Inclusion Award for Excellence in Rights Promotion and Empowerment, recognising advocacy and work supporting the rights, inclusion, and empowerment of disabled people.
NT Government Disability Inclusion Awards 2026— Highly Commended
Highly Commended in the NT Government Disability Inclusion Award for Excellence in Rights Promotion and Empowerment, recognising advocacy and work supporting the rights, inclusion, and empowerment of disabled people.
NT Government Disability Inclusion Awards 2026— Highly Commended
Highly Commended in the NT Government Disability Inclusion Award for Excellence in Rights Promotion and Empowerment, recognising advocacy and work supporting the rights, inclusion, and empowerment of disabled people.
SAFCA (South Australia & Northern Territory) Awards 2026 — Nominee
Nominated for the 2026 SAFCA Standing Ovation Award, recognising nearly 10 years’ experience in the financial counselling sector, complex systemic advocacy, community engagement, and contribution to the broader financial counselling sector.
SAFCA (South Australia & Northern Territory) Awards 2026 — Nominee
Nominated for the 2026 SAFCA Standing Ovation Award, recognising nearly 10 years’ experience in the financial counselling sector, complex systemic advocacy, community engagement, and contribution to the broader financial counselling sector.
SAFCA (South Australia & Northern Territory) Awards 2026 — Nominee
Nominated for the 2026 SAFCA Standing Ovation Award, recognising nearly 10 years’ experience in the financial counselling sector, complex systemic advocacy, community engagement, and contribution to the broader financial counselling sector.
