In this episode, we’re joined by Meredith Bryan, a dedicated researcher, educator, and advocate whose work is transforming the way we understand and support autistic individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We also have a special guest host Carolyn Wade for this episode.

Meredith Bryan trained as a secondary school teacher and has worked in schools in Sydney’s inner and western suburbs. She is the proud mother of four sons. For the past decade she has primarily been supporting her youngest autistic son. As his needs have changed, she has had the privilege of returning to work and study. Having completed a Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies at Griffith University Meredith is continuing her studies at Griffith University’s Autism Centre of Excellence and is halfway through a Master of Education and Professional Studies Research.

In addition to her studies she also works part-time at the Autism Centre of Excellence. It is her family’s lived experience of autism and her relationship with culturally and linguistically diverse autistic communities that inform her research. Meredith’s research focuses on partnering with culturally and linguistically diverse autistic communities in Australia who have traditionally been underrepresented in autism research. The focus of her current research is South Asian caregivers’ experiences of obtaining a diagnosis and early supports when raising an autistic child in Australia. She hopes this research will inform government policy in the health and education sectors to create culturally relevant services for the autistic community and remove barriers that currently prevent families from accessing autism diagnoses and supports in Australia. Her research findings will be translated into South Asian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Nepali, and shared with the community.