In this episode of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview Toni Borneo, a late diagnosed autistic woman who produces the amazing 'Autistic at 40' podcast! Toni shares her personal journey from childhood to adulthood, the stigma she experienced along the way and the impact this had on her mental health. The episode delves into many issues include employment discrimination, ableism and key pillars of strength that Toni benefitted from to get through the challenges she experienced.

Find Toni on Apple podcasts by searching: Autistic at 40 Toni Borneo

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Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview autistic advocate and author David Gray-Hammond. David shares his personal journey to getting an autism diagnosis as an adult and how finding the autistic community saved his life. He provides insight into his work on autism and addiction, discussing why self-medication and substance use may be more prevalent among autistic people. David emphasises how trauma and lack of support contribute to negative outcomes, advocating that disability rights are fundamentally human rights. Other key topics include societal barriers faced by autistic individuals, the importance of connectedness and empowerment, and David’s efforts to change narratives through his writing, podcasts, and advocacy. Tune in to hear David's inspirational story and perspectives on creating a more accepting world for autistic and neurodivergent people.

If you would like to contact David, then feel free to! His email is david@dghneurodivergentconsultancy.co.uk. You can also access his fantastic blog and gain access to his podcast and details of his fantastic books by going to his website which you can access here: David Gray-Hammond - Emergent Divergence

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Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

Chris and James interview Cameron Straughan, an autistic Canadian author, photographer, film-maker and teacher. 

Cameron, who resided in many years in the UK, talks through his autism journey including his youth and diagnosis later in later, experiences and views regarding the challenges of employment, and discuss some of the main challenges and discrimination issues faced by the autistic population and what needs to change for progress to occur. He also talks through his love of surreal and absurd comedy and humour, how he uses humour as a key coping mechanism for his own wellbeing, the offensive misconception of autistic people not understanding humour, his latest novel, 'The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen', and much more!

Links:

Website: https://cameronstraughan.com/ Goodreads.com: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8417641.Cameron_A_Straughan Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cameron-Straughan/e/B00E5YA688/ London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! 

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon. All Rights Reserved.

In Season 2, Episode 13 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James interview the two founders of Mainspring Arts, Katya Balen and Miranda Prag!

Mainspring Arts is an innovative organisation that works across artistic disciplines and have over the years since it was founded in 2015 supported and provided many opportunities to many neurodivergent people (some of whom you will be hearing directly from in upcoming episodes!). They do this by facilitating workshops to develop participants' skills, providing mentoring by industry leaders, and producing publications, performances and showcases. They aim to promote our participants' work to all audiences, with the ultimate aim of mainstream representation of neurodivergence in the arts. They strongly believe that neurodivergent people should have the opportunity to represent their own voices and experiences.

During the episode, Katya and Miranda explain what led to the organisation being founded, the misconceptions and lack of representation that they wanted to help push back on, the work that the organisation has done to date, future plans and more!

Links:

Website: http://www.mainspringarts.org.uk/

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! 

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon. All Rights Reserved.

In Season 2, Episode 12 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James interview Abby Brooke, an autistic advocate based in Kenya and lead of the 'Walking Autism' initiative.

During the episode, we hear all about Abby's fascinating journey towards diagnosis and self-acceptance, the aims and importance of her Walking Autism initiative, and some of the key issues and challenges facing the autistic and wider autism community in Kenya, including particular stigma issues and challenges accessing support.

If you are enjoying our podcast and have found it useful to you, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever else you get your podcasts as they really help us a lot in expanding our audience.

Links:

Abby's Walking Autism website: www.walkingautism.co.ke

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

In Episode 11 of Season 2, Chris and James interview sensory specialists Jo Grace and Becky Lyddon (founders of the Sensory Projects and Sensory Spectacle respectively), as part of another recent livestream episode that the London Autism Group Charity have been running to support the wellbeing of the autistic and wider autism community during the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic.  During the livestream Jo and Becky answered many audience questions which led to an in-depth and fascinating discussion around the sensory world, in particular however on the differences between sensory impairment and sensory difficulties, the connection between toileting issues and sensory processing, including the role of interoception, the connection between eating and sensory processing, and advice on how to cope with sensory issues and boost wellbeing during Covid-19. To watch the full video of this interview, and also all of our other Livestream interviews, please visit Facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity/videos If you are enjoying our podcast and have it useful to you, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or whereever else you get your podcasts as they really help us a lot in expanding our audience. Links:

Jo Grace's Sensory Projects website: http://www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk/

Jo's Twitter:https://twitter.com/jo3grace

Becky Lyddon's Sensory Spectacle website: https://www.sensoryspectacle.co.uk/

Becky's Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckylyddon

Sensory Spectacle Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensorySp

Sensory Spectacle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sensoryspectacle/

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

In Season 2, episode 10, Chris and James interview Joan Pons Laplana, an autistic nurse in the NHS leading a major new initiative called 'Neurodiverse Nurses' which aims to promote the inclusion and acceptance of neurodiverse nurses in the NHS.

In this episode, we speak to Joan, about the initiative and its importance, particularly in relation to leveraging the abilities and strengths of such nurses, his own personal experiences of autism, his struggles with mental health, and his work on the front line in fighting Covid-19.

Joan, who was named Britain's nurse of the year by the British Journal of Nursing is a true autistic hero, and I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to him.

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Links:

Neurodiverse Nurses Twitter: https://twitter.com/ndnursesuk

Neurodiverse Nurses website: ndnursesuk.org

Joan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoaringNurse

More information about the initative: https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/workforce/bid-to-launch-new-support-network-for-neurodiverse-nurses-09-03-2020/

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

London Autism Group Charity public Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group Charity twitter: twitter.com/lagcharity

In Season 2, episode 9, Chris and James interview Tigger Pritchard, an expert in Pathological Demand Avoidance, as part of another recent livestream episode that the London Autism Group Charity have been running to support the mental health of the autistic and wider autism community during the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic. 

In this episode, we talk about the work Tigger has been involved with, what PDA means, the importance of understanding what demands are and how avoidance of demands is frequently entirely rationale, reasonable and sensory-based, methods to reduce demands, and how to manage demand reduction and management during Covid-19, and more.

To access and participate in future livestream episodes, in which we talk with experts about mental health and coping during covid-19 among the autistic and wider autism community, please visit our public facebook page which is www.facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity. There you will also find the video recordings of past episodes which you can also access at our youtube channel.

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Tigger is an Autism & Pathological Demand Avoidance Consultant & trainer at Tiggertraining. He is a champion for the National Autistic Society in Cornwall has been running a vital campaign to engage with local businesses and thereby increase the Autism friendly services in Bodmin Cornwall. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tigger-pr... He also created and runs the Autism Coffee Shop Facebook page for interested people to learn and share information, articles on Autism, PDA and related areas. https://www.facebook.com/Autisminfoma... With over 30 years experience, he is a leading expert in the co-occurring condition Pathological Demand Avoidance and has also worked closely with the PDA Society.

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Links:

Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/27274...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

In Season 2, episode 8, Chris and James interview autistic advocate Kieran Rose about the threat to mental health for the autistic and wider autism community during the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic. 

To support the community, the London Autism Group Charity have begun doing a series of livestreams with interviews of autistic people and advocates around the topic of mental health and wellbeing. These are happening weekly at our public Facebook page (facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity) with full details about what and when livestreams are taking place listed there (as well as our Twitter: @lagcharity)

This podcast episode is the audio from one of these livestreams. We talk about some of the main challenges the community will be experiencing during Covid-19, about how to cope and reduce anxiety, the intersections between these challenges and the wider socio-cultural stigmatising narratives about autism, and the importance of recognising the opportunities for social and cultural learning and change that the current social circumstances provide. We also answered a range of interesting questions from the audience. 

We think it was a really useful discussion and worth uploading as its own standalone podcast episode, so that more people could access it and potentially benefit from the advice and suggestions provided. The video recording is also available from our youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69IQ4QZ5uj4) which you can find by going to youtube and searching for London Autism Group Charity. We'll be uploading our other livestreams there also.

Please note that the London Autism Group Charity is also looking for volunteers to support us in our work during this difficult period. You don't have to be London or even UK-based, so if you do have time and wish to support us, and are interested in mental health in particular, please get in touch with us via our website (londonautismgroupcharity.org). Thank you.

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Kieran Rose is a writer, international Public Speaker and former educationalist whose blog: www.theautisticadvocate.com has been read by over one million people. Kieran delivers his own specialist Autism training and consults for multiple different organisations. He is also Founder and Chair of The Autistic Cooperative, an International network and lobbying group for Autistic Professionals; and is Managing Director of the Social enterprise Infinite Autism, which supports Autistic people and families through funded partnership working. Kieran has recently become an executive board member of SLP Neurodiversity Collective, a US-based non-profit internation network and lobbying organisation of Neurodiverse positive SLTs and OTs. He was diagnosed Autistic in 2003 and is married with three children; two of whom are diagnosed Autistic.

In Season 2, episode 7, Chris, James and Lola Alvarez-Romano (a mental health expert and NHS psychotherapist) talk about the threat to mental health for the entire autism community during the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic. 

Clearly, the Coronavirus pandemic represents a public mental health emergency for all of us but in particular for the autism community who are particularly vulnerable. This is mainly due to the situation threatening routines, structures, access to usual external support and services, and access to support from family and the wider community.

Therefore, to support the community, the London Autism Group Charity have begun doing is a series of livestreams with interviews of autistic people and advocates around the topic of mental health and wellbeing. These are happening weekly at our public Facebook page (facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity) with full details about what and when livestreams are taking place listed there (as well as our Twitter: @lagcharity)

This podcast episode is the audio from one of these livestreams, in which we talk about how the autism community can support their mental health, self-care and boost resilience. We also took some questions from the audience. We think it was a really useful discussion and therefore decided it was worth uploading as its own standalone podcast episode, so that more people could access it and potentially benefit from the advice and suggestions provided. The video recording is also available from our youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9HnzChJg_9jMaV8NmJuXig) which you can find by going to youtube and searching for London Autism Group Charity. We'll be uploading our other livestreams there also.

Please note that the London Autism Group Charity is also looking for volunteers to support us in our work during this difficult period. You don't have to be London or even UK-based, so if you do have time and wish to support us, and are interested in mental health in particular, please get in touch with us via our website (londonautismgroupcharity.org).

In Season 2, episode 6 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James speak with Callum Brazzo, a well-known autistic performance poet based in Lincolnshire, UK. 

We talk about Callum's upbringing and the experiences that led him into poetry and performance, including his struggles with poor mental health and finally get diagnosed in his early 20s. He explains his journey towards coming full circle and becoming a leader in his community through supporting other autistic adults via his Autistic Led support group, his Autistic Lincs newspaper column and more. We also talk about language, social media discourse, his Tedx talks and he also performs two of his poems live for us, Nameless and The Energy Bulb.

Episode Timeline:

0 - 9.05: His schooling and upbringing experiences, experiencing poor mental health, expressing himself through his first songs and poems, publishing his first book, coming through circle through supporting others

9.06 - 16.27: Autistic Led support group, forming a community that he didn't have access to when he was younger, social progress and making impact on the next generation, filling the vacuum of autistic support in Lincolnshire

16.28 - 21.01: His experience of being diagnosed, the overwhelming emotional impact it had upon him, his Tedx talk, performing locally

21.02 - 25.59: Setting up the Autistic Led support group, getting funding, main conversational themes and activities

26.00 - 35.13: The impact that role models have had upon his life, the qualities and values that these role models had which worked for Callum,

35.14 - 39.35: Callum's fascination with words, the way his constructs his poetry

39.36 - 40.47: Performance of Nameless

40.48 - 53.43: learning about language and describing autism identity, autism in the news, looking at socio-cultural context behind people's actions, re-directing people's interests to tap into and realise potential, people are worth fussing about, inspirational porn, the need for a healthy social media discourse

53.44 - 58.26: The Autistic Lincs newspaper column Callum writes for, using the column as another method for giving people a voice, poetry writing as an outlet, Callum's book "Movement: Performance Poetry Written Down", what the The Energy Bulb poem is about

58.27 - 1.00.05: Performance of 'The Energy Bulb'

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Links

Callum's website: http://www.callumbrazzo.com/

His twitter: https://twitter.com/CallumBrazzo

Autistic Led support group: http://www.tonic-health.co.uk/AutisticLed.asp (and https://www.facebook.com/groups/287694928530440/)

Autistic Lincs column in Spalding Today newspaper: https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/autistic-lincs-the-challenges-we-face-9098067/

Callum's Tedx talk, 'Why we should make mountains out of molehills': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq9vcfOMKHM&t=

Callum's Tedx talk, '10 YEARS OF TED TALKS – AUTISTICS IN CONVERSATION': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJJ4j50ufFI

In Season 2, episode 5 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James speak with Christa Holmans, also known as Neurodivergent Rebel, about all things neurodiversity. In particular, we talk about her own journey into late autism diagnosis, how her mental health interplayed with her journey and the stigma of mental health, what neurodiversity means, why it is so important and the stigma associated with it, how to promote neurodiversity in the workplace and the importance of this, and much more.

Christa is a very well known autistic self-advocate from Texas in the United States and runs the internationally recognized neurodiversity lifestyle blog 'Neurodivergent Rebel' in 2016 as a way to introduce people unfamiliar with the concept of neurodiversity to this new way of seeing neurological difference. Today, she runs a very popular YouTube channel which explores the ideology of neurodiversity and the creative expressions of autistic people. She also actively discusses autism and neurodiversity on her Instagram and Twitter channels She also manages Neurodivergent Consulting, a consulting agency that works with businesses “to create new policies that work to attract and increase tenure of current and future neurodivergent employees”.

Holmans is also known as the pioneer of the #askingautistics hashtag, which is most often accompanied by a short question about common autistic experiences such as self-stimulation, burnout, special interests, alternative communication, and accommodations needed for accessibility. 

Episode timeline:

0 - 7.30 - Christa's autism journey and her late diagnosis, coping mechanisms and working towards correcting the misinformation and misconceptions associated with autism 7.31 - 11.15 - the importance of a positive and non-stigmatising diagnostic process 11.16 - 17.47 - what led to the diagnosis, the role of yoga 17.48 - 22.43 - what helps drive Christa's advocacy of neurodiversity and other work on social media, her personal journey into advocacy post-diagnosis, keeping on top of and engaging in social media discourse 22.44 - 27.15 - where she got the name 'neurodivergent rebel', what it means to her and how it reflects her rejection of pathologising autism, the meaning of neurodiversity and the importance of empowering it 27.16 - 33.00 - the stigma of neurodiversity and autism, and the significant potential negative impact associated with this 33.01 - 33.55 - America being behind the UK and parts of Europe in terms of understanding and valuing neurodiversity 33.56 - 39.31 - how to improve the diagnostic process, US vs UK diagnostic service differences, misdiagnosis or incorrect diagnosis 39.32 - 44:55 - the relationship between Christa's mental health and her late diagnosis, what in her life negatively impacted on her mental health (anxiety in particular), the stigma of mental health and the importance of destigmatising it, 'Texas Tough' and the expectation of being tough in Texas which can stem conversations about mental health 44.56 - 1.01.35 - how to promote neurodiversity in particular in the workplace, employment stigma and discrimination, how to make workplaces more neurodiversity friendly and the importance of this on productivity and mental health 1.01.36 - final thoughts and how to get in touch with Christa

Links:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/neurodivergentrebel/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeuroRebel

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdaQVw-dxYuZb2GXHL7LSjA

Main website: http://neurodivergentrebel.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NeurodivergentRebel

Christa's neurodiversity consultancy company: https://neurodivergentconsulting.org/

And also: http://AustinAllianceGroup.com

In this episode of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview London Autism Group Charity volunteer Simeon Thompson, a British Jamaican autistic man living in London who has been working in the IT industry for many years. Simeon was diagnosed as autistic in 2007 when he was 14 years old, however he denied his diagnosis until 2015 which led to many internal conflicts that impacted upon his uncertainty on how he could fit into society.

Today Simeon, who has many interests especially music (rock, rap, R&B, video game music, jazz and more), is passionate about sharing his experiences of learning to self-accept his autistic identity which has been crucial for his mental health. In this episode, Simeon talks about his difficult journey of isolation through school life, how his friends advised him to access counselling which helped him get to a place of self-acceptance and embracing his autistic identity and diagnosis. Simeon also shares some fantastic advice from his own experiences on how to leverage your special interests to practice and sharpen your social interaction skills which in turn can yield more rewards.

If you would like to contact Simeon for any advice, then feel free to! His email is simeonthompson214@hotmail.co.uk. He also has a podcast called 'The Inner Link' (Inner Link Podcast (@innerlinkpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos) where he and his friends discuss interesting topics such as society, spirituality, politics, etc. 

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Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In Season 2, Episode 4 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James speak with Lola Alvarez-Romano, an experienced child and adolescent psychotherapist who works to support the mental health of families in a special school based in North London. Lola talks about some of the key mental health issues she has observed during her time supporting families with a child with additional needs, the importance of the therapeutic journey and power of acceptance, the importance of supporting the mental health (particularly in school settings), how she protects her own well-being against emotional burnout, and much more.

Timeline:

0 - 13.09: Lola's background, training and how she ended up working in a special school supporting the mental health of families of children attending the school 13.10: The aim of the current school service she provides, main themes of issues that she encounters, the role of culture and stigma, isolation and social networks, the challenges and also positives of parenting a child with additional needs, the potential trauma of diagnosis 26.10: The 'why me?' feeling and the importance of the process and journey, how parental feelings could impact upon the child, the crucial importance of acceptance 29.02: Changing the social narrative towards embracing and accepting disability and diversity 32.35: James' experience of Lola's school-based support, parents being stuck in a negative loop and breaking this loop, the pressure on marriages, father mental health 40.18: The potential negative impact of professionals focusing on mothers over fathers, the importance of father involvement and parental unity 43.38: How Lola protects herself from burnout and boosts her own resilience in the face of often difficult, challenging and emotive conversations. Also her responsibility for safeguarding above all else. 50.56: Lola's belief that mental health services in schools, particularly special schools, should be available more widely and that commissioners & headteachers should try to prioritise services like this if resources allow more than they currently do. 57.30: The importance of thinking about the whole family including siblings whose mental health can also become vulnerable. How to contact Lola

Find out more about the work Lola does and how to contact her from the following links:

Association of child psychotherapists (https://childpsychotherapy.org.uk/member_details/4118) https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lola-%C3%A1lvarez-romano-583bba6a https://senmagazine.co.uk/home/articles/senarticles-2/the-unforeseen-journey

In Season 2, Episode 3 of The Autism Podcast, Chris speaks with Venessa Bobb about the difficulties that various ethnic minority autistic people and their families face including stigma and when accessing support.

Venessa is a well-known UK-based autistic campaigner and advocate of autistic people in particular those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities. She is the founder of A2ndvoice, a small voluntary group run by parents and carers of autistic children and adults, and Branch Officer of the National Autistic Society (NAS) Lambeth Autism Group (see also https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/amazing-volunteers/venessa.aspx). She is a member of the Advisory Group All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA), an advisor on the National Autistic Society's Diverse Perspectives report, the author of Network Autism's Supporting BAME autistic people and their families article, and supports the organisations Cassandra Centre and GroomSafe.  

You can contact Venessa through her Twitter handle (https://twitter.com/BobbVenessa) and LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/venessabobb/.

Timeline:

0 - 2.02: Introduction

2.03 - 9.01: Venessa's experiences of her autistic son when he was young including people's stigmatising and negative reactions across the community, the diagnostic process

9.02 - 15.19: Accessing support after her son's diagnosis and the lack of cultural representation; judgements and stigma towards her parenting, the increase of stigma in the community when her son's diagnosis was revealed, the importance of others accepting the diagnosis, stigma from professionals including judgements from the GP and social services that the underlying issue was parenting skills, the importance of being transparent and communicating with professionals.

15.20 - 21.08: The limitations of the Autism Act 2009 (until the update in 2019) in particular for autistic children, the statutory services not implementing the Act appropriately, lack of representation, the need for the community to come together to support each-other and to hear stories from the BAME autistic community, the need for BAME autistic representation

21.09 - 24.17: The Black community reacting to incidents but not coming together in unity and finding solutions through appropriate representation from the community, the Cassandra Centre, the importance of looking at family dynamics and looking beyond just autism per se to understand the whole picture, the importance of the different communities supporting each-other

24.18 - 27.46: How social services can improve the way they are delivering their support to families, lack of joined up thinking across professionals, the importance of cultural competence, trusting services

27.47 - 30.15: The role of the religious community in supporting autistic people and their families, what led Venessa to set up A2ndVoice and the work the organisation focuses upon, her other roles including the NAS Lambeth Autism Support Group

30.16 - 38.29: How we can reduce autism stigma and discrimination across different communities

38.30 - 40.19: Autistic people in the criminal justice system

40.20 - 51.12 Advice to new carers and parents of recently diagnosed autistic children who are experiencing/vulnerable to stigma

In Season 2, Episode 2 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James speak with Rachel Aanstad, an older autistic adult based in the United States who runs the Actually Autistic Podcast. Rachel talks about her personal experiences with diagnosis, the impact autism stigma and the allistic social world has had on her, the complexities in generating reliable research evidence about older autistic adults, social conformity, and the benefits of early diagnosis and self-acceptance. She also talks about what led to her developing her podcast, the podcast's main long-term goals, and ends with providing advice for older adults who are also discovering that they may be autistic.

Timeline:

0 - 1.58: Introduction 1.59 - 5.28: Rachel's own experience with the self-realisation that she may autistic 5.29 - 9.36: Autism stigma impacting on conversations about self-exploration 9.37 - 22.16: The mortality gap with older autistic adults, some of the risk factors associated with this (e.g. discrimination, poverty, social exclusion, loneliness), the need for more research evidence in particular reliable statistics and some of the challenges associated with researching this 22.17 - 33.26: Differences in outcomes exist, how the sensory world impacts upon wellbeing, the need and preference for aloneness, and Rachel's hyperphantasia 33.27 - 37.59: Social conformity, the pressure to comply, bullying, cultural differences towards the need to comply 38.00 - 42.18: The benefits of early diagnosis, self-diagnosis and self-acceptance for older autistic adults 42.19 - 50.47: What led to her podcast, what the podcast is about and the hope for long-term impact 50.48 - 54.37: Advice for older autistic people who are currently on the journey of self-exploration

In Season 2, Episode 1 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James speak with Joseph Michael , an autistic adult, campaigner, advocate involved in a range of autistic-led organisations. He talks about his personal experiences and challenges during school and education, finding a sense of belonging and identity with the autism community, and all of the various work he undertakes with the autistic-led organisations he is involved with. He also opens up about his mental health including what has helped and also challenged his mental health, organising autistic pride events, and more!

Timeline:

0 - 3:28 - Introduction 3:29 - 15:55 - Joseph's experiences at school including social rejection and bullying, the importance of exploring one's identity and the role school could have with this, and autism stigma more broadly 15:56 - 24:41 - Autscape, conferences, and the importance of autistic-led boards, how to get involved in Autscape and its board 24:42 - 36:57 - Labour Party Autism / Neurodiversity Manifesto, employment discrimination, the crucial importance of social policy, the need for a cultural change and autism stigma 36:58 - 42:50 Autistic pride events, recommendations on how people can get involved or arrange an autistic pride event 42:51 - 1:00:51 - Westminster autism commission, demonstrations and the Mendip House protest organised by Autistic Inclusive Meets, Assessment and Treatment Units (ATUs), Mental Health Inpatient units and discriminatory and harmful sectioning, the negative portrayal of autism in the media, the Oliver McGowan case, antidepressants and side effects, mental health and its links with traumatic experiences  1:00:52 - 1:06.51 - What has helped and hindered Joseph's mental health, and the impact of Joseph's work.

To contact Joseph, please email him at obergine@gmail.com.

Links to the organisations referred to in the episode are listed below:

Autscape - http://www.autscape.org/ labour party autism/neurodiversity manifesto- https://neurodiversitymanifesto.com/2018/09/18/labour-party-autism-neurodiversity-manifesto-final-draft-version-2018/

Westminster Autism Commission - https://westminsterautismcommission.wordpress.com/

The Autism Empire (who produce the customised autism alert cards) - https://www.autisticempire.com

Autistic cooperative - https://www.facebook.com/TheAutisticCooperative/

Stripped of Human Rights - https://bringingustogether.org.uk/stripped-of-human-rights/

In the final and 10th episode of season 1 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James reflect upon and discuss Season 1 and the podcast's plans for Season 2. They discuss some of the issues highlighted in each episode to date, including SEN and EHCP issues in schools, the importance of how professionals conduct the diagnosis process and communicate with parents/carers, the impact of social media including the neurodiversity discourse on Twitter and Facebook support groups (including the London Autism Group) as well as community meet-ups, autistic girls and women, bullying, sleeping issues, and the sensory experience. Both also talk about some of their personal experiences including diagnosis and epilepsy.

Thanks to everyone who has listened to Season 1. We hope the podcast has been useful to you and made a positive impact. We will be back with more episodes and interviews in Season 2 which will commence in September/October 2019.

-- If you would like to support the London Autism Group Charity, which produces 'The Autism Podcast', please visit https://www.facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity/ and consider making a donation (no matter how small). Thank you! --

In episode 9 of The Autism Podcast, James speaks with Joanna Grace, the founder of The Sensory Projects, Sensory Engagement & Inclusion Specialist, TEDx speaker, trainer, and author. The Sensory Projects is a national and international project aimed at promoting inclusion through focusing on people whose primary experience of the world, and meaning within it, is sensory. 

Joanna also delivers training days nationwide and offers consultancy and resource writing services to organisations looking to improve their inclusive practice. She has published many books and articles regarding her sensory engagement work, she is also one of the editors of the PMLDlink journal www.PMLDlink.org.uk, and a co-author of the 'Supporting people with profound and multiple learning disabilities' book that commissioners use when purchasing education, health and social care services in the UK.

1:55 Introduction: General information on the world of sensory processing 4:58 We discuss the equal validity of different types of communication. 6:00 Communication for people who haven’t acquired language. 7:30 The impact of learning and repetition on the development of the brain. 11:40 An introduction to Sensory Stories. 17:03 What brought Joanna to concentrate on this area of research? 24:23 The aim of the Sensory Story Project 25:40 The Sensory Art Project 32:00 Thinking about the Mental Health of people with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. 32:42 The Sensory Being Project – Sensory mindfulness. 35:35 The Importance of being able to gauge the views of a person who may not be able to communicate them directly. Not to allow carers and support workers to impose their own views on to the people in their care, which could distort the situation. 38:50 What Sorts of people attend the training events that Joanna hosts? 40:05 What are the events like? 42:00 Sharing information 42:58 TED Talk 44:28 Supporting Third World Care Settings around the world. 45:23 The importance of the new Core and Essential Standards for supporting people with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. 52:19 How people can help to drive up the standards of care provisions by spreading knowledge of the Core Standards. 53:00 How to contact Joanna 53:53 Conclusion

In episode 8 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and Kiran speak with Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou, an academic working with sleep experts and the autistic community in order to understand sleeping issues among people, autistic sibling well-being, mental health, participatory research approaches and more. Georgia works at University College London in particular at the LiLAS Laboratory which is a lifespan learning and sleep laboratory run jointly by UCL and the Institute of Education.

The interview focuses upon the challenges that poor sleep pose to autistic people and their families, including the nature of these challenges, their consequences, what increases the risk of poor sleep, and advice on how to approach these issues.

Timeline:

0 - 5:28 - Introduction 5:29 - 11:40 - The importance of theory and participatory approaches when designing research studies, and how this helped Georgia initially identify some of the issues related to sleep 11:41 - 20:25 - What is 'good' sleep, 'deep sleep', the autistic sleep profile and differences between typically developing people, and improving 'sleep hygiene' among autistic people specifically 20:26 - 25:17 - Risk factors of sleep problems including poor mental health, social environments and lifestyle. What are the causal relationships - does poor sleep cause poor mental health or does poor mental health cause poor sleep? Also the consequences of poor sleep including unemployment 25:18 - 28:09 - The links between sensory issues, anxiety, daytime routines and sleeping profiles 28:10 - one size does not fit all, the importance of understanding the individual, using screens/social media before sleep, feelings of self-blame 33:10 - 42:20 - Professionals stigmatising autistic people and perceiving sleeping issues among autistic people as a consequence of behavioural deficit and being rule-breakers. Sleep is a lifespan issue and therefore we need more research on sleep among autistic people across different age groups. This lack of research is in part due to not listening and valuing the autistic voice until now (reinforcing the importance of participatory approaches), as well as the 'deficit narrative' and autism stigma. 42:21 - 49.34 - The impact of poor sleep on families and parents/carers, blame towards parents/carers which increases the risk of self-stigma and self blame among parents/carers, removing the blame 49:35 - 51:27 - There are many more questions still to explore: do autistic people have different circadian rhythms? how does epilepsy, gender issues, co-existing conditions such as adhd, side effects of medications, other medical problems (such as constipation) all play a role? We need more research! Without the evidence, people are guessing their way forwards which may not work and may result in further anxiety and self-blame 51:28 - 55:08 - General, reasonable advice to parents/carers who are struggling with sleeping issues in the families. 55:09 - 57:08 - General, reasonable advice to autistic people who are struggling with sleeping issues, 57:09 - 58:27, 1:02:56 - 1:03:44 - How to contact Georgia including how to get involved in her research 58:28 - 1:02:55 - Does sleep naturally improve over time without intervention/additional support? Brief discussion about melatonin 1:03:44 - 1:08:00 - Some final advice from observations during Georgia's observations including not to fear embracing unusual but safe and reasonable solutions, trust your child and be guided by them as to what to safely try

Georgia's twitter: https://twitter.com/jopavlopoulou 

LiLAS lab twitter: https://twitter.com/LILAS_Lab

Georgia's profile page: www.lilaslab.com/georgia-pavlopoulou 

For Georgia's latest research papers go to: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30802802 and https://network.autism.org.uk/good-practice/evidence-base/autistic-adults-and-sleep-problems

Upcoming sleep event for parents to hear more about the results of our latest work: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ucl-open-sleep-day-tickets-57617630885

Sample of sleep papers from LiLAS Lab team; The Role of Environmental Factors on Sleep Patterns and School Performance in Adolescents: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285573305_The_Role_of_Environmental_Factors_on_Sleep_Patterns_and_School_Performance_in_Adolescents

In episode 7 of The Autism Podcast, Chris and James speak with Dr Emily Lovegrove, a well-known anti-bullying expert, consultant and academic. Dr Lovegrove, who was diagnosed later in life as autistic, talks about her approach and philosophy on the issue of bullying including what constitutes bullying, its impact, why it happens, how to manage it, and how our responses to it are influenced by many factors including wider socio-cultural values. She talks about its links with mental health, stigma, culture and biology in what is a fascinating exploration into one of the most powerful and, unfortunately, prominent issues autistic people and the wider community have to face.

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Timeline:

0 - 2:45 - Introduction

2:45 – 11:15 - Intro into the type of work Emily does including within schools and her broad approach

11:16 - 13:10 - Black and white thinking and encouraging the grey, the impact that society has on everything including bullying

13:11 - 25:20 - Different forms of bullying including mate crime and why autistic people can be so vulnerable to bullying, the importance of teaching autistic children 'no' and self-respect, ABA and the problem of expecting conformity

25:21 – 30:10 - What is bullying?

30:11 – 34:37 - Is the bully a victim also? Do their circumstances have an impact?

34:38 - 36:30 - Do emotional responses to bullying help or impede in managing situations, and how can we manage our emotions?

36:31 - 48:20 - General advice on how to manage bullying including the importance of managing stress, breathing, practicing self compassion and self respect, shifting away from emphasising compliance and being confident to say 'no'

48:21 – 55:40 - The crucial importance of shifting social attitudes towards autism and the importance this could have on mental health, self compassion and bullying

55:41 – 1:01:22 - Final thoughts and how people can contact Emily

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Emily's website: http://thebullyingdoctor.com/

Emily's twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBullyingDr

Emily's book ("Help! I'm being bullied"): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Help-Being-Bullied-Emily-Lovegrove/dp/1905170343 

In Episode 6, Chris talks with Anna Kennedy OBE, one of the most well known autism campaigners particularly in the UK. Anna talks about her extraordinary personal story and life including how she entered the world of autism. She then explains the various work she and her charity, annakennedyonline.com, are involved with including schools and respite centres she set up, The Give Us A Break campaign, Autism's Got Talent, the Autism Hero Awards and AKO Autism Expo, and her thoughts on why and how her charity has been so successful. 

If you enjoy the episode please consider supporting us by going to https://www.facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity/ and using the blue donate button or by setting up a Facebook fundraiser. Or you can paypal us a donation at londonautismgroupcharity@gmail.com. You can also find us on Amazon Smiles and Give As You Live. We are a small and new charity with many big ideas about how to make a positive impact but need your support to help achieve this! Thank you.

Episode timeline:

3:46 - 7:07 - Meeting her husband and moving to London 7.08 - 30:35 - Patrick, Angelo and setting up her first support group and schools 30:36 - 41:37, 45:27 - 48:31 - Empowering parents 41:38 - 45:27 - Cultural stigma, shame and bullying 48:32 - 58:20 - Autism's got talent 58:21 - 1:00:20, 1:17:41 - autism's got attitude and street dancing 1:00:21 - 1:03:27 - Producing music and Building Bridges 1:05:30 - 1:11:20 - Burnout, building resilience, and breaking away from a strict upbringing 1:11:21 - 1:17:40 - Anna's appearance on Strictly Come Dancing 1:21:15 - 1:23:05 - Giving hope to others and advice to those thinking of helping others 1:23:06 - 1:30:43 - AKA Autism Expo, Autism Reality Experience, Women's Radio Show and final words of advice

Anna's charity website (which contains links to Autism's Got Talent, AKA Autism Expo and much more): https://www.annakennedyonline.com/

Anna's twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaKennedy1

Anna's Women's Radio Station show 'All Things Autism': http://womensradiostation.com/members/anna-kennedy-obe/ 

In Episode 5, Chris and Kiran talk with Carly Jones MBE, an autistic mother of two autistic girls, autism advocate and campaigner whom, since 2008, has been campaigning for greater acceptance, equality of diagnosis, education and safeguarding of autism women, girls and their families. We talk about her personal story including homelessness and some of the work she does to support the autism community, camouflaging among autistic girls/women (and boys/men), the impact this has upon diagnosis and the need for qualitative approaches to diagnosis, the language and conceptualisations associated with special interests, mental health, and issues associated around the safeguarding of vulnerable autistic women.

Carly has produced a wide range of impactful resources including her free online course, 'Bodies Boundaries Abuse and Reporting It' (linked below), many successful blogs and articles some of which have been published in the national press. Carly also does many national and international events aimed at creating positive impact both in terms of positive social attitudinal change and also steering government policy. She also mentors and personally supports families, works on research advisory panels and much more. All of this led Carly receiving an MBE for all of her work in May last year. 

If you enjoy the episode please consider supporting us by going to https://www.facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity/ and using the blue donate button or by setting up a Facebook fundraiser. Or you can paypal us a donation at londonautismgroupcharity@gmail.com. You can also find us on Amazon Smiles and Give As You Live. We are a small and new charity with many big ideas about how to make a positive impact but need your support to help achieve this! Thank you.

Episode timeline:

0 - 2:37 - Intro 2:38 - 8:32 - Carly's story 8:33 - 10:17 - Homelessness and autism 10:18 - 15:35 - Camouflaging among autistic women 15:36 - 26:31 - Challenges with the diagnosis of autistic women including current screening tools 26:32 - 28:43 - Carly's mentoring and support work 28:44 - 36:05 - What do parents of autistic girls need to know, and language and conceptions of special interests (vs obsessions vs experts) 36:06 - 41:22 - Parental mental health 41:23 - 50:40 - Safeguarding 50:41 - 1:00:53 - Advice for autistic people struggling with poor mental health

Carly's website: http://britishautismadvocate.simpl.com/

Carly's twitter: https://twitter.com/CarlyJonesMBE

Carly's film, Epidemic of Knowledge: https://www.reelhouse.org/olley/epidemic-of-knowledge

Carly's YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC58oNplP6pFoBS7wuL3bNUg

Carly's free online safeguarding course 'Boundaries , Bodies, Abuse and Reporting it for Autistic Girls' - https://www.openlearning.com/courses/boundaries-bodies-abuse-and-reporting-it-for-autistic-girls- 

In this episode of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview Tess Eagle Swan, an autistic expert in assistance/service animals and also the proud owner of the world famous rescue dog, Kratu, the star of the 'Incredible Kratu' book.

Tess opens about her 'autism journey' including her childhood experiences, her connection with animals (particularly Kratu), her struggles with relationships, mental health and substances, and provides her advice on how to think about service animals and what to do if you are in need of one.

Tess is very happy for anyone to contact her if you have any questions after listening to this. You can contact her through her LinkedIn page which is https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-e-22b94a1a2/.

Tess recommends the following organisations and people if you are interested in exploring whether a service animal is right for you and your family:

- Dogs For Autism | UK's first charity exclusively providing Autism Assistance dogs

-Dogs for Good - Who we are - Assistance Dogs - Charity - UK

- UK Owner Trained Assistance Dogs Campaign for Change | Facebook

- Animal Behaviourist & Canine Specialist | About | Kirsten Dillon

- ASSISTANCE DOG SUPPORT GROUP | Facebook

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Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In Episode 4, Chris speaks with David Grant, the husband of Carrie Grant who featured in episode 2! David is a well known singer, television presenter and vocal coach and also happens to be a father of children with different additional needs including two autistic children. In this episode, David opens up about his own personal experiences during his journey of understanding and acceptance, and describes how his experiences, while challenging, have enriched his life. Chris and David also talk about why fathers can be vulnerable to poor mental health, the stigma of mental health especially among fathers, and what fathers who are struggling with poor mental health can do to support themselves.

Episode timeline:

0 - 2.51 - Intro 2:52 - 5.55 & 15:31 - 16:14, 16:55 - 19:12, 24:40 - 28:35, 44:50 - 46:27 - David's personal story 5.56 - 9:40 - Challenging what we've learned about parenting 9.41 - 13.00 - Embracing the journey 13:01 - 15:30 - Fathers' need for practical solutions 19:13 - 24:39, 46:55 - 51:55 - Fathers' vulnerability to poor mental health 29:20 - 33:44, 51:55 - 1:10:12 - Advice to fathers' struggling with mental health 33:45 - 40:40 - "Not one drop of our self worth should depend on other people's acceptance of us" 40:46 - 44:49 - Labelling, stigma and our 'normal' counts

David's twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidGrantSays

David's website: http://carrieanddavidgrant.co.uk/

In Episode 3, Chris and James interview Emma Dalmayne! Emma is a well known autism rights campaigner in the UK (and internationally) who campaigns against so-called autistic 'treatments', 'cures’ and mistreatment, in particular MMS (chlorine dioxide bleach being used to 'cure' autism). She is autistic herself having been diagnosed at the age of 37. Her youngest son was diagnosed before her which led to her opening a Facebook support group for autistics and parents/carers. She is the author of "It's an Autism Thing - I'll help you understand" and the CEO of Autistic Inclusive Meets (AIM), a community organisation which enables families with autistic children and autistic individuals to get out into the community and socialise in an accepting inclusive environment with like-minded peers.

Episode timeline:

1:25 - 3:37 - Intro 3:38 - 5:30 - Emma's personal story 5:31 - 8:42 - The lack of support at diagnosis and professional stigma 8:43 - 15:42 - Challenges that autistic people experience today including autism stigma, sensory issues, ABA, schooling, low vs high functioning labels, and some ideas for solutions including homeschooling 15:43 - 22:12 - Fake autism 'cures' and 'treatments' including MMS/CD 22:13 - 30:19, 36:27 - 40:33 - Emma's community work including Autistic Inclusive Meets  34:39 - 35:32 - Emma's advice to autistic people with poor mental health 35:33 - 41:40 - Changes to society that Emma would ideally like to see 41:40 - 43:41 - Outro

Emma's twitter: https://twitter.com/edalmayne

Emma's book ("It's an Autism Thing - I'll help you understand"): http://www.stasspublications.co.uk/publications/its-an-autism-thing-ill-help-you-understand

Autistic Inclusive Meets website: https://autisticinclusivemeets.com/

Autistic Inclusive Meets Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/autisticinclusivemeets/

Autism Inclusivity Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autisminclusivity/

In Episode 2, Chris and Emma interview Dr Carrie Grant! Carrie is perhaps best known for television, music and radio work but also happens to be a tremendous autism advocate and campaigner, and a parent of autistic children too. Carrie tells us her story and her views on the social and cultural issues that intersect with autism stigma and discrimination. She also talks about mental health, SEN and schools, employers and more!

Episode timeline:

0 - 12.37 - Carrie's personal story of her children's diagnoses and journey 12:38 - 19:27 - Carrie's parenting approach 19:28 - 33:29 - Stigma's impact on mental health (including a bit on marital relationships from 29:35 - 31:53) 33:30 - 46:29 - Schools and SEN, their impact and responsibility, child mental health, and the changes required 46:30 - 50:54: Employment stigma and discrimination, and the changes required 50:55 - 1:09:25 - Views on how to create real positive social and cultural change 1:09:26 - 1:20:51 - Carrie's practical advice for autistic people struggling with poor mental health 1:20:52 - 1:23:13 - Outro

Carrie's twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieGrant1

Carrie's website: http://www.carrieanddavidgrant.co.uk/ 

Episode 1 begins with introducing the show and what are we aiming to achieve with it and providing context about the London Autism Group Charity that is producing the show. We will then hear from the podcast team (Chris, Morgan, James, Kiran and Emma) including a bit about our personal stories with autism and some of our views about attitudes and the stigma towards autism, what needs to change and improve, the importance of mental health, the challenges of epilepsy and more.

Episode timeline:

0 - 17:15 - Introduction to the podcast, its aims, housekeeping points about language, criticism and disclosure, and how you can support the charity 17:16 - 43:40 - Personal introduction by each of the podcast hosts 43:41 - 1:20:39 - Group discussion about autism stigma, its impact on mental health, and thoughts on how to challenge stigma and improve understanding 1:20:40 - 1:33:10 - Conversation about epilepsy, what it is, its impact, and some advice on how to manage this 1.33.11 - 1:36:17 - Outro

In Season 2, episode 20 of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview Jenny Teuten about her experiences as a sibling and carer to her autistic brother with learning difficulties. Jenny opens up about the challenges she's faced over the years including how social stigma and misconceptions have impacted her and her family's life, how her childhood made her a more resilient and empathic person, the type of relationship she has with her brother now and her hopes for the future. She also outlines her main advice for other siblings in similar circumstances including the importance of challenging opinions that don't sit right with you and accessing support such as she has found with the London Autism Group Charity's monthly siblings support group. 

Jenny is very happy for anyone to contact her if you have any questions after listening to this. Her email address is hello@teutenhealing.com.

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Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In Season 2, episode 19 of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview Emily from @21andsensory! Emily is an autistic adult who several years ago developed the @21andsensory blog (https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/) with the aim of educating and supporting people (and adults in particular) with sensory processing difficulties. Today, she runs a fantastic and very influential set of social media accounts (https://www.instagram.com/21andsensory/ , https://twitter.com/21andsensory, https://www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory) which focus on sensory related issues. She also produces her own podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/76SifuR4fKLPldkaOcH693) which we are also excited to be featured within during at upcoming episode!

During the podcast, we discuss her journey towards diagnosis, and explore the many challenges and successes that she experienced along the way. This includes the challenges of schooling including the lack of support and understanding she received, the lasting toll this has had on her mental health, the misunderstanding as well as positive support from different professionals she has encountered, and the need for appropriate autistic-led mental health services. We also discuss her views on sensory processing issues including its stigma and misunderstanding, the need for normalisation and the challenges but importance of building sensory spaces (the latter of which is the focus of a research project called 'Sensory Street' that Emily is involved with: https://twitter.com/sensory_street).

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In Season 2, episode 18 of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview Ginny Grant, an autistic advocate who is writer, editor and communications manager at Reframing Autism, an Australian based organisation run by and for Autistic people and their families and allies, who celebrate and nurture autistic identity.

We discuss Ginny's journey towards her late autism diagnosis, the mission of Reframing Autism, her challenges and experiences with mental health including post-natal depression, OCD and eating disorders (and how the latter two inter-connected), and her views about why autistic people might be more vulnerable to eating disorders. 

Links

Ginny's Twitter: https://twitter.com/virginialgrant 

Reframing Autism Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReframingAutism

Ginny's article title "Atypical anorexia: Facing an eating disorder, Autistically" - https://www.reframingautism.org.au/atypical-anorexia-facing-an-eating-disorder-autistically/

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In Season 2, episode 17 of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Chris Papadopoulos interview Alan Morrison, an autistic man with rich insight and experience of the challenges and problems of the schooling and educational system for neurodivergent people. Alan talks about his childhood, the difficulties of school before he found teachers that inspired him, like the sociologist Michael Haralambos, who were rare and invaluable voices in the promotion of individuality, difference and diversity. Alan also talks about the story of his younger autistic brother and his educational transformation, how current curriculum and approaches still stifle individuality, and ideas and philosophies that could better promote diversity in today's schooling environments. We also talk about the unconscious moral mind, internal autistic honesty and the challenges of being assertive when integrity is being questioned. 

Please note that Alan also sent us a powerful story about an autistic boy he worked with during his teacher training. You can find a recording of this story, which is just a few minutes long and well worth also listening to, here: The Maze Story

Links

Alan's email address (he'd love to hear from you!): aj3morrison@yahoo.co.uk

Alan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/aj3morrison

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In Season 2, Episode 16 of The Autism Podcast, James Gordon and Tigger Pritchard (our special guest podcast interviewer!) interview Kirsty Pellow, who is herself neurodivergent, a carer to two boys with different needs, a SEND support worker and advocate.

We hear from Kirsty Pellow, and follow the steps of her own personal experiences learning about autism. She tells us about her journey as a carer, and how she learnt to trust her own instincts as a parent over the dismissal and denial of others. Searching for knowledge to help her son, this led to her pushing to get her son a referral for autism diagnosis, based upon the fascinating differences that he displayed and his various care needs.

Kirsty also describes her battles with the Local Authority to have her son’s educational needs met, her hard won successes, and the resulting high cost to her mental health. Kirsty explains her decision to Home Educate her son for a time, in order to address his co-occurring needs, and the way this better prepared him for school education in the long run. Also discussed is the sense of duty she felt to support other parents in winning SEND provision for their autistic children, and taking on an official role as a support worker. Finally Kirsty reflects upon learning about her own neurodivergence, the value of self-love and self-care.

Links

Kirsty's twitter: https://twitter.com/kirstypellow87

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In this episode, Chris and James speak with American TV, film and stage actress and producer Julie Caitlin Brown. Julie, who is also a musician and coach, is very well known for her role as Na'Toth in the first and fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, and for various guest star appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  She has also worked on many other shows including Becker, JAG, Raven, Sliders, and Beverly Hills 90201, among others. 

We speak with Julie about her own experiences of autism, adversity, why hopeful sci-fi often resonates with autistic and neurodivergent people, the stigma of autism and difference more broadly, and the importance of inclusion, self-acceptance and compassion to oneself and others.

Links

Julie's website: https://juliecaitlinbrown.com/about-julie/

Julie's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliecaitlinbrown/

Julie's facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieCaitlinBrown

Julie's twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieCaitlinB

Other links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity and click on the blue donate button - thank you!)

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity. It is hosted by Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon.

All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Autism Podcast, the new co-hosts of the show, Simeon Thompson and Sophia Christophi introduce themselves and explain their respective journeys into their autistic identity including the particular ways  each of them responded to their diagnoses. They also discuss their dedicated, interests, issues around masking and much more!

If you're interested in hearing more about Simeon's story, please go to this podcast episode which previously featured Simeon as a guest on the show: Interview with Simeon Thompson about self-acceptance as an autistic person, mental health, approaches to social interaction and more | The Autism Podcast

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Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Autism Podcast, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi interview Aditi Gangrade, an autistic advocate from Mumbai, India. Together, they discuss Aditi's journey into the world of autism, how autism is viewed and (mis)understood in India, what needs to change to improve understanding and reduce stigma, and the important advocacy work she is doing with her company, Much Much Media.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

All Rights Reserved.

Join our hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Brendan Tighe, an autistic college language professor and autism advocate currently living in Mexico after spending most of his life in the US. Brendan shares his personal journey, including receiving an autism diagnosis at age four but only truly understanding its impact much later in life. He delves into the incredible and challenging legal battle his family undertook against the school system to secure his educational rights, highlighting the crucial support from his trailblazing uncle.

Brendan opens up about the complexities of masking, feeling different, and navigating a world where autism was often misunderstood or treated like a "dirty word." He discusses his path from those early struggles to becoming an advocate, finding his own way to learn and thrive – including teaching himself languages – and the importance of self-acceptance, independence, and challenging societal underestimations to achieve his potential.

Brendan has also shared his journey in more detail in his recently published Medium.com article, "Breaking the Silence: 33 Years of Autism, Advocacy, and Acceptance.' Links to this article are: 

https://medium.com/@bdtighe/breaking-the-silence-33-years-of-autism-advocacy-and-acceptance-85134df6ad77

https://substack.com/inbox/post/159523582 

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Brendan's contact info:

Brendan's email address: bdtighe@gmail.com

Brendan's instagram: Brendan Tighe (@brendigio) • Instagram photos and videos

--

Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson

Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon

All Rights Reserved.

Join our host Simeon Thompson as he welcomes Barry Davies, Police Community Support Officer, and Sergeant John Nelson, both from the British Transport Police. Barry brings a personal perspective as a parent of an autistic son and draws on his previous experience working for TFL London Underground in ticket offices, while John shares his journey as an autistic police officer and founder of the National Police Autism Association (NPAA).

Barry opens up about his transition from TFL ticket offices to becoming a PCSO when the Oyster card system led to ticket office closures, and how his personal experience with autism through his son has shaped his approach to community policing. He shares real examples of supporting autistic people on the transport network, highlighting how understanding and empathy can transform situations that others might misinterpret as aggressive behavior when the person is actually frightened or overwhelmed.

John delves into his career change from IT to policing after volunteering with St. John Ambulance sparked his interest in emergency services. He discusses receiving his autism diagnosis several years into his police career, the challenges of fitting into police culture, and his determination to create support for neurodivergent colleagues. He shares the founding and remarkable growth of the NPAA, which now supports nearly 3,000 members across 48 UK forces, and the evolution of autism acceptance within policing from complete ignorance to growing understanding and acceptance.

The conversation explores the importance of proper autism training for officers, the value of resources like police guides, meltdown response materials, and the Met Police's stop and search guide for autistic people. Both guests emphasise how taking time to talk with autistic individuals rather than making assumptions can completely change outcomes, and the crucial difference between viewing autism through a medical lens versus understanding it as neurological diversity.

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National Police Autism Association website: National Police Autism Association (NPAA)

John Nelson's email: chair@npaa.org.uk X: https://x.com/npaa_uk Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/npaa.org.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-police-autism-association-npaa-uk 

Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson

Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon

All Rights Reserved

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Kirsty Lavender-Newns, a dedicated volunteer and lead befriender for the London Autism Group Charity, and a trainee therapist. In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Kirsty shares her journey of late diagnosis, the complexities of self-acceptance, and the power of finding your community.

Kirsty opens up about the experiences that led her to seek an autism diagnosis in her early twenties, a process that began after facing significant challenges at university. She explores the feelings of self-doubt and the struggle with internalised ableism that many late-diagnosed autistics face, and discusses how connecting with the London Autism Group Charity became a vital part of reshaping her own narrative and finding a sense of belonging.

The conversation takes a deep dive into the nuanced topic of masking. Simeon and Sophia contribute their own perspectives, discussing how cultural backgrounds and gender norms can shape the pressure to mask, leading to a fascinating discussion on trying to navigate a world without a clear 'social cue handbook'.

The episode also explores why Kirsty decided to train as a therapist. She explains the immense value of autistic-led therapy, the obstacles of training within systems designed for neurotypicals, and the importance of having a therapist who truly understands. Kirsty shares what her training journey has taught her about herself and about creating truly safe, empathetic spaces for others.

This episode is a moving and honest exploration of what it means to build a life on your own terms. Kirsty's story is a testament to the power of understanding yourself, the relief of letting go of neurotypical expectations, and the incredible strength found in community.

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Kirsty's Book Recommendations:

- Papadopoulos, Chris. Voices of Neurodiversity: An Inclusive Encyclopaedia (Routledge, 2025)

- Bargiela, Sarah. Camouflage. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019.

- Belcher, Hannah Louise. Taking Off the Mask. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2022.

- Ekins, Erin. Queerly Autistic. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2021.

- Garcia, Eric. We’re Not Broken. Harvest, 2021.

- Hendrickx, Sarah, and Jess Hendrickx. Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2024.

- Jones, Steph. The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2024.

- On Being An Autistic Therapist. Pccs Books.

- Pang, Camilla. Explaining Humans: Winner of the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2020. Penguin.

- Rogers, Carl R. A Way of Being. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1995.

- The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Autism Studies (Routledge International Handbooks). Routledge.

-----------------

Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson

Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.orgFacebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharityLondon Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos and Mr James Gordon

All Rights Reserved

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome David Devine, a lead Oliver McGowan trainer at DynamicTraining.org.uk. In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, David shares his journey to a late autism diagnosis and dives deep into the core concepts of autistic culture, communication, and the Double Empathy Problem.

David opens up about his personal history, from being diagnosed with dyslexia as a child to the pivotal, and somewhat unusual, moment years later when he received his autism diagnosis. He explores the profound process of rebuilding his identity and self-understanding post-diagnosis, reflecting on the journey from confusion to clarity.

The conversation centres on Damian Milton's Double Empathy Problem, reframing communication challenges as a two-way street rather than a one-sided deficit. The hosts and David share powerful personal anecdotes that illustrate the differences between autistic and neurotypical interaction styles. They explore why expressions of empathy can be so easily misunderstood across neurotypes and challenge long-held assumptions about autistic social skills.

The episode also delves into the exciting concept of an "autistic culture" -a way of being with its own unique norms and social structures. This leads to an inspiring discussion on the importance of self-understanding, the power of a collective autistic voice, and the need to shift the focus from assimilation to mutual respect. It’s a call for acceptance on our own terms, moving beyond the pressure to conform.

This is an essential listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of autistic communication and identity. David’s insights offer a compelling case for why the world needs to meet autistic people halfway, enabling a more inclusive and empathetic society for everyone.

David's Special Interests:

• Autism (his main special interest, which he has turned into his career)

• Chess (which he plays a lot of, but insists he plays badly!)

Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson

Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Our links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.orgFacebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharityLondon Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi

All Rights Reserved

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Jenny Loughran, the CEO and Editor in Chief of Autistic Revolution magazine. In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Jenny shares her unflinching story of self-identification, the concept of systemic trauma, and her fierce advocacy for a world that truly embraces neurodiversity.

Jenny opens up about her personal journey, which began not by questioning her own identity, but by fighting for her two neurodivergent children within a broken system. She reflects on how navigating their diagnoses triggered her own 'neurodivergent awakening,' leading her to reframe a lifetime of masking and mental health struggles. In a raw and honest account, she discusses being told she was 'too eloquent' for a diagnosis and the profound process of reclaiming her identity from the pathology paradigm.

The conversation reframes trauma not as a single event, but as the relentless, daily experience of being autistic in a world not designed for you. Through the powerful story of her son Joseph, Jenny illustrates the devastating impact of the education system, the pain of social isolation, and how behaviours labelled as 'disruptive' are often cries of dysregulation and unmet needs.

The episode also explores Jenny's work with Autistic Revolution magazine - a platform created to showcase autistic creativity and empower the autistic voice. This leads to a passionate call to dismantle the systems that harm neurodivergent children and to replace them with a neurodivergent-affirming culture. It’s an urgent plea for a society that provides safety, celebrates authentic self-expression, and allows autistic role models to thrive.

This is an essential and emotionally resonant listen for parents, advocates, and anyone seeking to understand the true cost of non-acceptance. Jenny’s story is a testament to the strength of the autistic spirit and the urgent need for a more compassionate and informed approach to neurodiversity.

Book recommendation from this episode:

• Neuroqueer Heresies by Nick Walker

Jenny Loughran's links:

• Autistic Revolution Magazine: https://www.autistic-revolution.com/

• Jenny's LinkedIn: : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-loughran-4224b5242/?originalSubdomain=uk

Our links:

The Autism Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_autism_podcast/

Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson

Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Wider Charity links:

• London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

• Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

• London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi

All Rights Reserved

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Nic King, founder of Pandas Online and creator of the NeuroBears courses for autistic children and young people.

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging episode, Nic shares their journey of being autistic, ADHD, and dyslexic, and reflects on growing up in a family environment that was intuitively neuro-affirming long before the language of neurodiversity was widely used. The conversation explores how early acceptance, structure, and understanding can shape identity, reduce shame, and change how autistic people experience the world as they grow up.

Nic discusses the origins of Pandas Online and the development of NeuroBears, explaining why there is such a gap in child-focused, autistic-led resources that help young people understand their neurology in a neutral, non-deficit way. Nic also shares the thinking behind the much-loved bear analogies, used to explain autism, observation, and difference in ways that are accessible without being patronising.

Simeon, Sophia, and Nic delve into autistic friendships, loneliness, and connection, including the pressures of school environments, forced socialisation, and why shared interests often form the strongest foundations for meaningful relationships. The discussion touches on masking, the double empathy problem, and what genuine inclusion might look like if systems were designed around neurodivergent needs rather than compliance.

This episode offers a grounded and hopeful look at how understanding autism early, supporting autistic parents, and building community can make a real difference across generations.

Nic’s resources: Pandas Online: https://www.pandasonline.org NeuroBears courses: information available via the Pandas Online website

Our links:

The Autism Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_autism_podcast/Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SiimthompsonDr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophiaPlease like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Wider Charity links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-autism-group-charity

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Katie Munday, a community researcher, advocate, and the self-proclaimed "permanently exhausted" creator of 'Autistic and Living the Dream'. In this episode, Katie discusses their experiences of navigating the crucial intersections of being trans and autistic, and breaking down the systemic barriers they face in healthcare and academia.

Katie shares their journey to a late "two-for-one" diagnosis of autism and OCD, an awakening sparked by their work with neurodivergent youth. This experience serves as a launchpad for a deep dive into core concepts like ableism and cisgenderism, and how these oppressive systems combine to create a "cisgenderism-ableism nexus" that marginalises trans and autistic people. The conversation unpacks the frustrating reality of healthcare inequity, powerfully illustrated by the concept of "trans broken arm syndrome," where every health issue is wrongly attributed to a person's trans identity.

The episode also shines a light on powerful, community-led activism. Katie gives an insider's account of the successful Boycott Spectrum 10K campaign, a grassroots movement that challenged a major genetic research project. This leads to a profound and radical critique of academia itself, as Katie questions whether true liberation can be achieved within systems that were not built for neurodivergent or marginalised people, asking the vital question: "What happens when the roof falls in?"

This is an essential listen for anyone interested in the intersections of neurodivergence, gender identity, and disability rights. Katie’s powerful voice, extensive knowledge, and unwavering commitment to their community provide a deeply validating perspective that challenges assumptions and inspires action. It’s a conversation that is as joyful as it is critical, offering a vital roadmap for building a more inclusive and just world.

Recommended resources from this episode:

- Autistic and Living the Dream: Katie’s website, blog, and central hub for their research, training, and consultancy work. Visit at: https://www.autisticltd.co.uk/

- The Double Empathy Reader edited by Damian Milton: The book discussed in the episode which explores the theory of the Double Empathy Problem. Katie contributed a chapter on the healthcare experiences of trans autistic people.

- Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Among Self-Medicating Autistic Adults - Chris Papadopoulos, Tanya Adkin, Katie Munday, David Gray-Hammond, 2025

- Improving Substance-Use Services for Autistic Adults: Insights and Recommendations from Autistic Adults | Autism in Adulthood

Exploring the Experiences of Autistic Transgender and Non-Binary Adults in Seeking Gender Identity Health Care: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/aut.2023.0003

Exploring Autistic Sexualities, Relationality, and Genders Living Under a Double Rainbow: https://www.routledge.com/Exploring-Autistic-Sexualities-Relationality-and-Genders-Living-Under-a-Double-Rainbow/Rosqvist-Day-Krazinski/p/book/9781032576114

- Autistic Substance Use Network – A home for research into Autistic substance use

The Palgrave Handbook of Research Methods and Ethics in Neurodiversity Studies: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-66127-3

Our links:

The Autism Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_autism_podcast/Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SiimthompsonDr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophiaPlease like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Wider Charity links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Helen Edgar, the creator behind the invaluable online resource, Autistic Realms. In this episode, Helen shares her journey of late AuDHD identification and takes us on a deep dive into the theory of Monotropism, a concept central to her work and a powerful lens for understanding the autistic experience. The conversation explores everything from the mechanics of autistic burnout to the radical act of reclaiming rest.

Helen breaks down the theory of Monotropism, explaining how the autistic mind tends to be pulled strongly towards a few interests at a time, creating deep 'attention tunnels'. She discusses how this cognitive style can make task-switching and navigating a multi-channel neurotypical world exhausting, leading directly to autistic burnout. Drawing from the work of autistic researchers, Helen walks through the core principles of a monotropic mind, offering listeners a framework that can bring clarity to their own experiences with hyperfocus, inertia, and executive functioning.

The episode also introduces the powerful concept of 'reclaiming rest'. Helen challenges the conventional, often neurotypical, ideas of what it means to recharge. The hosts and Helen discuss why activities that energise some can be draining for others, and how deep-diving into special interests can be a profoundly restorative act of self-care, not a sign of avoidance. The conversation also touches on the pressures of masking, the evolution of the online autistic community, and the importance of creating spaces where autistic people can truly be themselves.

This is an essential listen for anyone looking to move beyond deficit-based models of autism. Helen’s passion and extensive knowledge provide a validating and empowering perspective, offering practical insights and a profound sense of being understood. Whether you're new to the concept of Monotropism or have been living it your whole life, this episode is a treasure trove of knowledge that will reshape how you think about the autistic mind.

Helen's Recommended Resources:

• Autistic Realms: Helen's website, filled with blogs, infographics, and ebooks covering Monotropism, burnout, education, and more. Visit at: https://autisticrealms.com/

• Monotropism.org: A central resource for learning about the theory of Monotropism, created by and for the autistic community. Visit at: https://monotropism.org/

• Stimpunks: An organisation providing neurodivergent-led training and resources, including "The Map of Monotropic Experiences" created with Helen. Visit at: https://stimpunks.org/

• The Nap Ministry: An organization that examines the liberating power of rest and naps, founded by Tricia Hersey. Visit at: https://thenapministry.com/

Our links:

• The Autism Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_autism_podcast/
• Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson
• Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Wider Charity links:

• London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

• Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

• London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi

All Rights Reserved

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Ellen Cole, founder of Little Seed Group, public speaker, and hedgehog rescuer :) In this candid and revealing episode, Ellen shares her complex journey of navigating life with multiple neurodivergences, including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Irlen Syndrome (Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome).

Ellen recounts her initial resistance to the idea of being autistic- attempting to prove a friend wrong- only to discover a diagnosis that eventually helped her understand her life experiences. She provides a fascinating insight into how these co-existing conditions interact, describing how her autism often acts as a regulator for her ADHD, and the specific sensory challenges caused by Irlen Syndrome.

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the intersection of neurodivergence and pregnancy. Ellen opens up about the difficulties she faced within the healthcare system, where professionals frequently mistook her neurodivergent traits for mental health issues. She discusses the sensory nightmare of hospital wards, the lack of support for breastfeeding, and the fight to advocate for her needs during a vulnerable time.

The discussion also tackles the harsh realities of the workplace. Ellen shares the grief and financial stress of losing the majority of her freelance clients after announcing her pregnancy, highlighting the precarious nature of employment for neurodivergent parents.

However, the episode is also filled with hope and practical strategies. Ellen shares the unique strengths of autistic parenting, from using hyper-focus to plan enriching activities for her daughter to creating sensory-friendly environments at home. She discusses the tools she uses to manage daily life, including the ‘Finch’ self-care app, using sunglasses to regulate melatonin, and how special interests like astrology and dressmaking provide essential dopamine hits.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the realities of neurodivergent parenthood, the impact of multiple diagnoses, and the power of self-advocacy.

Ellen’s Recommended Resources:

• Little Seed Group: https://littleseedgroup.co.uk/

• The Autism Discussion Page on Stress, Anxiety, Shutdowns and Meltdowns by Bill Nason: The book discussed in the episode that helped Ellen understand the female autistic experience.

• Finch Care: A self-care widget app mentioned by Ellen for managing tasks and routines.

• NABS: A charity offering support and therapy for those in the advertising and media industry: https://nabs.org.uk/

• Ellen Cole's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenjcole/

Our links:

The Autism Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_autism_podcast/Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SiimthompsonDr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Wider Charity links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-autism-group-charity

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.

Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Jill Corbyn, founder and director of the neurodivergent-led community interest company, Neurodiverse Connection.

In this insightful episode, Jill shares her journey of being late-discovered autistic, a realization that slowly emerged after working alongside phenomenal autistic colleagues and experiencing a severe period of burnout. The conversation explores how hearing the authentic, insider experiences of autistic people completely shifted her understanding of autism away from traditional, deficit-based medical models.

The hosts and Jill dive deep into the vital importance of lived experience leadership and neurodivergent-led training. They discuss the common assumptions professionals must unlearn, the power of using identity-first language, and the phenomenon of autistic people intuitively recognizing one another. Jill explains why we desperately need to move toward a model of needs-led care, rather than gatekeeping vital support behind years-long diagnostic waiting lists.

The discussion also tackles systemic advocacy and the challenges of being a lived-experience professional navigating complex systems like the NHS. Jill sheds light on her organization's role in the Culture of Care program, working to improve the sensory environments and support systems within mental health inpatient wards. Alongside this, the trio touches on the Double Empathy Problem, the Autistic Space Framework, dealing with the "scarcity mindset" during difficult times, and the regulating joy of special interests - including Jill’s beloved working cocker spaniel, Bat (Wombat).

This episode offers a deeply validating look at the power of community, self-understanding, and authentic connection. Jill’s passion for neurodivergent advocacy and transforming systemic care provides a hopeful roadmap for the future. Whether you are questioning your neurotype, looking for community support, or working in a professional care setting, this conversation is an essential listen.

Jill's Recommended Resources & Mentions:

• Neurodiverse Connection: Jill's organization, offering neurodivergent-led training, resources, and community meetups (including groups for autistic men, Black autistic people, and late-discovered individuals). Visit at: https://ndconnection.co.uk/

• The Double Empathy Reader edited by Damian Milton: The book discussed in the episode exploring the Double Empathy Problem. Jill and her colleague Kay contributed a chapter on embodied double empathy.

• The Autistic SPACE Framework: Created by Autistic Doctors International, a framework for understanding and meeting autistic needs in healthcare and beyond.

• The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks: Sophia's book recommendation from the episode.

Our links:

• The Autism Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_autism_podcast/

• Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson

• Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

• Guided Neurons: Simeon's personal YouTube channel dedicated to self-understanding and autistic insights: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedNeurons

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://donorbox.org/london-autism-group-charity-donations - thank you!)

Wider Charity links:

• London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

• Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

• London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-autism-group-charity

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Vijay Panchal, a Watford-based neurodivergent artist, workshop facilitator, and public speaker who specializes in character design and visualizing emotions.

In this engaging episode, Vijay opens up about his journey to an adult diagnosis of AuDHD (Autism and ADHD). He candidly shares the challenges of enduring multi-year waiting lists, untangling co-occurring "grey area" health conditions like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Dysautonomia, and the profound closure that came from finally understanding his own neurology and unmasking his authentic self.

The conversation deeply explores the intersection of neurodivergence and culture. As a British Indian whose native tongue is Gujarati, Vijay highlights the complexities of navigating a culture that lacks a specific word for autism (often defaulting to words like "Mansik," meaning sickness of the mind). He discusses the impact of generational trauma, stigma, and the vital necessity of cross-cultural education and forging new, neuro-affirming language to break down these barriers.

Simeon, Sophia, and Vijay also delve into the powerful relationship between autism, visual thinking, and trauma. Vijay explains how art became his primary language and a vital tool for self-regulation, eventually leading him to facilitate art well-being workshops for others. The trio touches upon masking, overcoming the "negative inner critic," the concept of "flow state," and the importance of implementing holistic health practices - like mindfulness, somatics, and boundary setting - to combat autistic burnout.

Whether you are navigating your own complex diagnostic journey, looking for ways to embrace your unique potential, or interested in the healing power of art, Vijay’s perspective offers an incredibly hopeful and validating listen.

Vijay’s Recommended Resources & Mentions:

• Vijay Panchal's Art & Workshops: To see Vijay’s portfolio, character designs, and learn more about his art well-being workshops, click here: VIJAY PANCHAL - FINE ARTIST - Workshops + Exhibitions

• Problem Shared: The Right to Choose neurodevelopmental assessment service that assisted Vijay with his diagnosis: https://www.problemshared.net/

• David Gray-Hammond (Emergent Divergence): An advocate, mentor, and LAGC associate mentioned by Vijay who does brilliant work in the fields of mental health, addiction, and neurodiversity: https://neurohubcommunity.org/

• Genius Within / The Genius Finder: Founded by Dr. Nancy Doyle, a resource Vijay used for identifying neurodivergent needs and strengths in terms of advocacy and employment- https://geniuswithin.org/

• Hatch Enterprise: The organization where Vijay completed the Launchpad program to develop his art well-being workshops: https://hatchenterprise.org/

• Parallel Windsor: The inclusive festival where Vijay has facilitated his workshops: https://www.parallellifestyle.com/windsor

Our links:

The Autism Podcast instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_autism_podcast/

Simeon Thompson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Siimthompson

Dr Sophia Christophi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autistically.sophia

Guided Neurons: Simeon's personal YouTube channel dedicated to self-understanding and autistic insights: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedNeurons

Please like, follow and subscribe to our social media channels to support us! It makes a big difference to our small but wonderful Charity.

Please also leave us a review (hopefully positive ;) ) on Apple Podcasts - this is a huge help for us.

And please consider donating to the London Autism Group Charity if you are enjoying this podcast that we produce and able to (simply go to https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/30442 - thank you!)

Wider Charity links:

London Autism Group Charity website: londonautismgroupcharity.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/londonautismgroupcharity

London Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272747662886046/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-autism-group-charity

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagcharity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagcharity

The Autism Podcast is produced by the London Autism Group Charity.Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi