Educating a World of Lions about Neurodiversity

In Lions, there are literally hundreds of conventions held every year all over the world. You have your District conventions, typically attended by several hundred Lions from your local district of clubs. Then you have Multiple District conventions attended by several thousand Lions from your nation or your state.

But there’s only one International Convention. This is the big one. Tens of thousands of Lions from all over the world come together over five days in the spirit of service and fellowship to do many things such as participating in the pageantry of the street parade, witnessing the spectacle that is the installation of new District Governors, and just sharing and learning, and possibly making a new friend or two.

So far there have been 106 International Conventions conducted. They take place in a different city each year. Last year it was in Boston. Next year it will be in Mexico City. This year – it was in Melbourne.

I said to myself, “if there’s one International Convention that I attend in my lifetime, make it this one.” Melbourne, after all, is practically a hop, skip and a jump from Sydney by plane. Who knows when they will next host it in Australia? So I resolved to go.

Empty seats and stage where Tom and Katie did their presentation.
(Photo taken by Tom.)

As far as participating in the Convention was concerned, I didn’t have any major plans. I’d just go and see what it’s all about. Maybe I’d exercise my right to vote as my club’s delegate. Whatever happens, I’ll definitely have fun in Melbourne for a week.

Then one day, a young autistic Leo-Lion from New Zealand came to my club’s monthly meeting on Zoom. Katie Townsend, of District 202E, had a vision for a more inclusive Lions, in which neurodivergent people such as ourselves were supported and empowered to serve. And she wanted to share that vision, not just with Lions in her own country, but with Lions from all over the world.

And she invited me to present with her on stage in Melbourne.

Federation Square Stage Presentation Schedule. Tom and Katie's presentation was entitled Neurodiversity in Lions, and it took place on Sunday, June 23 from 14:15 - 15:00.
(Photo taken by Tom)

Katie had written multiple pages of text for the presentation and had prepared slides. In fact, she did most of the work. My contribution, such that it was, was to edit the text of the presentation and, in particular, to infuse the facts about different neurodivergent presentations with my own lived experiences. All I had to do on the day was read out my parts that Katie largely drafted for me!

We rehearsed our presentation – via Zoom of course – three times. We got it down to 30 minutes. Perfect, seeing as we had a 45 minute slot. This would leave 15 minutes for us to answer any questions the audience might have. We were ready.

A cardboard tram outline demarcating the mock Federation Square presentation area in the Exhibit Hall.
(Photo taken by Tom)

I’m not gonna lie. I was kind of disappointed to learn that we weren’t going to present in the actual Federation Square, which has auditoriums in which presentations, concerts and other events take place!

Rather, we would be speaking in a charming little mockup of said Square within the Exhibit Hall of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (affectionately known as “Jeff’s Shed” by Melburnians) where the entirety of the Convention took place. Realising the impracticalities of hosting events across multiple venues in downtown Melbourne, I got over the disappointment pretty quickly.

Side view of the presentation stage.
(Photo taken by Tom)

Sunday, 2pm. Federation Square Stage. Katie and I met for the first time in person. Yes, literally fifteen minutes before we were due to commence our presentation. Isn’t technology wonderful?

Katie handed over the slides to the technician who loaded them into the system. Then we got on stage and placed our notes on the lectern. Nearly all of the sixty or so audience seats were occupied. We had our entourage of Lions from our respective districts there to give us their support. But there were plenty of unfamiliar faces, too. Clearly, there was interest in what we had to say.

Katie Townsend (202E) and Tom Bozic (201N5) spreading the Neurodiversity in Lions evangel to the world!
Tom is wearing a rainbow-coloured bow atop a headband, a sunflower lanyard, and flowery leggings.
Katie is dressed for business in a blazer and pantsuit.
(Photo by PDG Brian Daniels of 201N5.)

Our talk covered key terminology. We discussed the difference between neurodiverse and neurodivergent, for example. We talked about autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia. We covered topics such as employment and relationships. We gave statistics and we told our own stories. We shattered common misconceptions.

Then finally, Katie touched upon her plans for embracing neurodiversity in Lions. She has a workshop prepared and is planning on delivering it to Lions in New Zealand. Perhaps, with her permission, we might deliver a version of the workshop here in Sydney.

In all, it took us 37 minutes to deliver the presentation.

We had eight minutes for questions and personal observations from the audience. Can’t recall what people asked or said, but it was overwhelmingly positive.

Three o’clock came. We got off the stage to allow the next presenter to get themselves sorted. We had conversations with audience members. Business cards were exchanged. Photos were taken. Then Katie and I parted ways.

Tom and Matilda the Inflatable Kangaroo, after the presentation.
(Photo by Kate Calcott.)

Well, it was certainly a worthwhile experience. I did what Lions International President Fabricio Oliviera exhorted all of us to do this year and Made My Mark. And I did it on the international stage. And I had company.

For Katie, this could be the start of her advocacy career, bringing about significant change to Lions club and service culture.

And for me: I just might have taken my career as an autistic service evangelist to the next level.

Tom Bozic is the President of the Sydney Autism Community Lions Club.

2 thoughts on “Educating a World of Lions about Neurodiversity

  1. A very impressive piece of writing Tom. Congratulations on becoming an autistic service evangelist.

  2. Congratulations Tom Bozic you really made us all proud. Keep on shining and keeo up the good.

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