💬 Episode Description:
In the very first episode of Make it Make SENDs, I sit down with Kieran Rose — better known as The Autistic Advocate
— to talk all things autism, inclusion, and the future of education.
Kieran is one of the UK’s most respected autistic voices, a writer, trainer, and speaker who’s spent years challenging the systems that fail autistic children and their families. In this honest and powerful conversation, we explore how our schools are designed, why so many autistic pupils are being excluded or misunderstood, and what needs to change if we’re ever going to get inclusion right.
Kieran makes a bold and thought-provoking statement: “We don’t have a SEND crisis — we have an education crisis.”Together, we unpack what that means, and how teachers, parents, and policymakers can start to shift the narrative from “fixing children” to fixing the system.
This episode is real, reflective, and full of insight — a must-listen for anyone who cares about how we educate and support neurodivergent young people.
🔗 Join the Conversation:
You can explore Kieran’s work, resources, and training at www.theautisticadvocate.com
and follow him on social media @TheAutisticAdvocate.
For more reflections, blog posts, and future episodes, head to www.detentiondiaries.com
— home of the Make it Make SENDs podcast, the Detention Diaries series, and a growing community of educators, parents, and advocatesworking to make education better for everyone.
👉 Read. Listen. Join the conversation. Let’s make it make SENDs — together.
Enjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.
👉 Head to www.detentiondiaries.com
to read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community.
Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.