Yellow Ladybugs

01/09/2026

COMMUNITY CALL-OUT: AUTISM, HORMONES AND PMDD 💛

We are creating a new peer led resource about autism, hormones and PMDD and we want to include some quotes and practical tips from our ladybug community!

• What does PMDD feel like for you?

• How does it affect your sensory needs, emotions, energy, executive functioning, relationships or ability to manage everyday life?

• How did you first recognise that there was a pattern connected to your cycle?

• What helps you get through the harder days?

• What practical tips?

• What do you wish your family, workplace, or healthcare professionals understood?

You can share a short quote, practical tip below or email us at [email protected]

Please let us know whether you are comfortable with us including your words and name in the resource.

Please only share what feels comfortable for you. 💛

Send a message to learn more

01/09/2026

BIG NEWS!

Our much loved 2026 Yellow Ladybugs Conference access has been extended for 1 MORE month!

You have until the 30th of September 2026 to watch our amazing conference, filled with over 30 panels and over 50 presenters.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, allied health professional or an adult ladybug yourself, there is so much content to dive into from masking, burnout, perfectionism, school can't, and so much more.

And btw, you can still purchase tickets!
Our $99 online ticket is now half price, so get in quick!

After this, we won't be able to extend access as we don't have ability to.

Which session will you watch first?

31/08/2026

SEEN: PART 3 💛 WE SEE YOU, Lucy.

Lucy shared: "My differences are obvious and led to me being excluded and marginalised throughout my schooling. The cost has been to my mental health. While so many of my peers are out in the world experiencing life, I am traumatised and in burnout, and this makes me feel invisible."

This artwork is made up of people from our YLB neurokin community whose lives have been impacted by masking, burnout, mental health struggles or other experiences that may have gone unseen or made us feel invisible.

With every person added, SEEN grows into a bigger picture of how many people in our YLB community have carried these experiences, often thinking they were the only one.

Want to join us? If you’re an autistic woman or gender diverse adult who’s been impacted by years of masking, burnout or mental health struggles, and would like us to consider adding you to the artwork, please comment below (share your pic and/or short story/message).

We know we won’t be able to add everyone who shares their story. If we don’t get to you, you are still part of what SEEN represents. This artwork is about something much bigger than the people we can fit into one picture.

Artwork is by one of our wonderful YLB autistic teen team members. Concept inspired by the very talented and adapted with her permission. 💛💛

31/08/2026

We know you are tired and frustrated but we wanted to let you know about the current NDIS consultation that’s open We really think our community’s experiences need to be heard… The Australian Government is asking for feedback on proposed changes to New Framework Planning and NDIS Supports. These proposals are not final, and this consultation is separate from Thriving Kids consultations.
New framework planning is expected to begin gradually with people aged 18 and over from April 2027. Proposed changes to the NDIS Supports rules are intended to apply to old and new framework plans, so families of children can also respond.

Some people in our community have told us they are concerned about whether the proposed process will recognise support needs that are masked, internalised, dynamic or fluctuating. What can be seen in one appointment or setting may not reflect someone’s full support needs, the effort involved or what happens afterwards.

People have also raised concerns about assumptions around unpaid family support, how assessment information may affect budgets and whether participants will have a clear opportunity to correct errors before an assessment report informs their budget.

You can answer only the questions relevant to you. A short response explaining what the process may miss, what this could mean for you or your family, and what you want changed can be enough.

Easy Read and Auslan information is available. Consultation closes Wednesday 14 October 2026.

For more info check link in stories to go to
https://consultations.health.gov.au/disability-and-carers-group/nfp-ndis-supports/

29/08/2026

Member Shares: Thank you for creating I am a Yellow Ladybug book! I’m a speech pathologist so it will be on heavy rotation…I’ve actually used the book 3 times with clients already for completely relatable struggles that they raised! Its been a staple of my therapy bag and a ‘aha! I have just the tool!!” I really love it!!! It’s truly stunning and a joy to read! I’m so grateful that the very important topics covered in the stories are all in one book! Real, very relatable but sweetly messaged experiences of discovering autism, friendships, perfectionism and big feelings in short chapters makes this a book I will enjoy frequently with all the yellow ladybugs in my world! I’m so grateful that our little ladybugs get what we didn’t!! It’s such a gift and a joy for them!! 💛 Laura

27/08/2026

This is Rachel Corben, Principal of Reservoir West Primary School, dressed as Mia from I Am a Yellow Ladybug for Book Week.

It sure feels like things have changed compared to when Mia was in primary school. Yes, schools still have a long way to go, but it’s nice to celebrate progress and change in real time.

Thanking Rachel for this wonderful act and for giving permission for us to share these photos 💛🐞

27/08/2026

SEEN: PART 2 💛 WE SEE YOU, Janelle.

Janelle shared: “I am late diagnosed and have masked my entire life, growing up feeling different, like there was something fundamentally wrong with me, without ever knowing why. I became incredibly good at hiding my needs, pushing through overwhelm and exhaustion, and appearing like I was coping when I really wasn’t.”

This artwork is made up of people from our YLB neurokin community whose lives have been impacted by masking, burnout, mental health struggles or other experiences that may have gone unseen or made us feel invisible.

With every person added, SEEN grows into a bigger picture of how many people in our YLB community have carried these experiences, often thinking they were the only one.

Want to join us? If you’re an autistic woman or gender diverse adult who’s been impacted by years of masking, burnout or mental health struggles, and would like us to consider adding you to the artwork, please comment below (share your pic and/or short story/message).

We know we won’t be able to add everyone who shares their story. If we don’t get to you, you are still part of what SEEN represents. This artwork is about something much bigger than the people we can fit into one picture.

Artwork is by one of our wonderful YLB autistic teen team members. Concept inspired by the very talented and adapted with her permission. 💛💛

fans pls comment to help keep the algorithm gods happy 😊

26/08/2026

In honour of book week we would love to hear what books you would add to this list of affirming books perfect for our ladybugs? 💛 P.S. You can grab all five from our online shop: https://yellowladybugs.myshopify.com/collections/books-and-resources

Image description: Five book suggestions

* All Brains Are Different — created by Alisa Mlakar, Katie Koullas and Natasha Staheli; illustrated by ◾️Trish Burton - Creative .
* The Brain Forest — written by Sandhya Menon; illustrated by Kushla Ross.
* I Am a Yellow Ladybug — story by Katie Koullas, in collaboration with Natasha Staheli and Chenai Mupotsa-Russell ; illustrated by Chenai Mupotsa-Russell.
* The Rainbow Brain — written by Sandhya Menon aka Unpacking Neuroaffirming Psychology Practice - Sandhya Menon ) ; illustrated by Kushla Ross.
* Michael the Volcano Engineer — written by Emma Ring Emma Ring - Psychologist ; illustrated by Clare Dunstan.

25/08/2026

Member Shares: Sophie was sooooo excited to dress up as Mia Ladybug! She can’t wait to tell her class that she was lucky enough to meet the authors at a recent YBL event. It has made Book Week extra special this year. Thank you YLB, for all the amazing work you do! You’ve done a brilliant job of the book and costume! 💛💛

25/08/2026

SEEN: PART 1 💛 We are super duper proud to share SEEN, a new evolving community artwork which will feature some of our YLB neurokin whose lives have been impacted by masking, burnout, mental health struggles or other experiences that may have gone unseen or misunderstood. We wanted to begin the artwork with a meeting place for us all. Somewhere we can put down our heavy, worn masks. Somewhere we can come together and feel less alone.

I chose to sit here first so I can welcome each new person added to the artwork. I know what it feels like to feel invisible, and I carry thousands of your stories in my heart. So please come sit with me. 💛

As more people are added, we hope the artwork will show just how many people in our community have lived through these experiences and, at some point, thought they were the only one.

This project is about our community feeling seen, heard, understood and valued. We want you to know: we see you, we hear you, your story matters and you are not alone.

That is why we’re calling the artwork SEEN. 💛

Want to join in? If you’re an autistic woman or gender diverse adult who’s really been impacted by years of masking, burnout or mental health struggles, and would like us to consider adding you to the artwork, please comment below.

We know we won’t be able to add everyone who shares their story. If we don’t get to you, you are still part of what SEEN represents. This artwork is about something much bigger than the people we can fit into one picture.

Artwork is by one of our wonderful YLB autistic teen team members. Concept inspired by the very talented (see her work in the comments) and adapted with her permission. 💛💛

Xoxo Katie fans