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My name is Katharine Annear I am an artist, writer, counselor, empath, visionary and student of many things. I am Autistic. I am a member of the Australian Institute of Professional Counselors and the Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals Association.

Within the disability community I am an active voice for change and promotion of the rights of people with disabilities particularly girls and young women. I have presented at state, national and international conferences. In 2006, presenting the paper entitled "Providing opportunities for the development and maintenance of friendship and life skills to girls with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative analysis" at the World Autism Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. This paper was a report on the qualitative information gathered from three years of work designing and implementing programs for girls who are a minority population on the Autism Spectrum being outnumbered 4:1 in Autistic disorder and 10:1 in Asperger disorder. In 2008 I travelled to Eugene, Oregon, to take part in the 4th International Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) where I was immersed in leadership culture and met many amazing women with disabilities from across the globe.

I am co-convener of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network Australia (ASAN AU), lobbying the Federal Government for recognition of Autism Spectrum Disorders and better access to services.

I am also an active leader in the Gay and Lesbian community and have just completed a two year theatre project exploring experiences of sexuality and disability in which I acted as a mentor, writing tutor and performer. I have previously been involved in community theatre creating works with young same sex attracted women who experience depression.

In November 2010, I was appointed as the Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) representative on the Board of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.