Neurodivergent experiences explored through drawings
Maud’s April exhibition at Gold Coast University Hospital shares neurodivergent experiences through art and reflection.
What’s happening?
Gold Coast Health dietitian and Neurodiversity Employee Network Chair Maud is exhibiting a series of drawings during Autism Acceptance Month.
The exhibition opened on 2 April 2026 and is being held throughout April in the Gold Coast University Hospital foyer.
This is the third straight year Maud has shared her artwork for Autism Acceptance Month.
After many experiences of being misunderstood as a multiply neurodivergent person, Maud said drawing became a way to communicate what words sometimes cannot.
“For me, drawing is less about creating art and more about advocacy. Through my drawings, I aim to build shared understanding and challenge stereotypes about autistic and other neurodivergent experiences,” Maud said.
Each piece includes reflections to support engagement, while also recognising that neurodivergent experiences cannot be reduced to one story.
The exhibition also includes QR codes linking to audio versions of each explanation, along with detailed alt-text descriptions to support accessibility.
Why it matters?
This exhibition gives people a chance to engage with neurodivergent experiences directly and thoughtfully.
It also shows how art can help explain experiences that may be hard to express in conversation.
For Maud, that matters deeply.
“Deep Dive Launch captures the moment just before entering hyperfocus or flow, when I am about to start drawing, and the outside world fades away, bringing a rare sense of calm,” Maud said.
“It feels like a more accurate and authentic form of communication for me,” Maud said.
Maud said exhibiting the drawings during Autism Acceptance Month is also a chance to grow understanding and visibility.
“Exhibiting my drawings is an opportunity to increase visibility and understanding. During my own identification journey, there were many experiences that didn’t make sense at first,” Maud said.
Local Impact
The exhibition places these conversations in one of the Gold Coast’s busiest public health spaces.
That means hospital staff, patients, visitors and the wider community can engage with the work during their daily routines.
It also reflects how Gold Coast Health is making room for different ways of thinking, perceiving and interacting with the world.
By the numbers
This is the third consecutive year Maud has contributed artwork for Autism Acceptance Month, showing a sustained commitment to advocacy through drawing.
The exhibition runs throughout April at Gold Coast University Hospital, giving visitors a full month to engage with the work.
Announced on 2 April 2026, the exhibition opens with Deep Dive Launch, the piece that introduces Maud’s drawing process and experience of hyperfocus.
Zoom In
The opening work, Deep Dive Launch, sets the tone for the exhibition.
It portrays the moment Maud begins drawing, when focus deepens and the outside world starts to fall away.
That personal starting point gives viewers a clearer way to understand experiences that are often missed or misunderstood.
Maud also made accessibility part of the exhibition itself, with audio explanations and alt-text helping more people engage with the work.
Zoom Out
The exhibition speaks to a broader goal of building understanding around autism and other neurodivergent experiences.
Maud is careful not to present her work as a single account for everyone.
“While I do not speak for the autistic community, I hope other autistic people might recognise parts of themselves in the artwork, especially if they’ve previously felt unseen or misunderstood,” Maud said.
That balance matters. It invites reflection, while recognising the diversity within neurodivergent lives.
What To Look For Next?
Throughout April, visitors to the Gold Coast University Hospital foyer can move through the full series, listen to the audio reflections, and spend time with the ideas Maud has shared.