In our latest podcast episode, we chat to Carmel Rainsford, a student on the MA in Autism Studies co-designed by Middletown Centre for Autism and Mary Immaculate College. Carmel had  studied on the graduate certificate and graduate diploma before she undertook the MA. The MA is focused on creating autism-affirming research. This is the first of our podcasts that will be celebrating the work of some of our students as they get set to graduate later this week. Carmel focused her research on understanding what school staff need so they are able to support meaningful inclusion for their autistic students.  

To find out
more about our graduate courses visit: https://www.mic.ul.ie/faculty-of-education/programme/graduate-certificate-diploma-ma-autism-studies?index=0 

On our latest podcast we chat to Amanda McGuinness, the creative mind behind Little Puddins. We talk about advocacy, parenting a child with a different neurotype and the importance of positive autistic representation.  

You can find
more of Amanda’s work here: https://littlepuddins.ie/ 

Returning to school can be an exciting time for many, but for some students it can produce real upset and anxiety. In our latest podcast, we speak to Autism Trainer Advisor, Tara Vernon, about her work supporting young people who find themselves unable to attend school. 

In the latest episode of the podcast, we talk to Sharon and Caolán McCarthy about the many ways that the environment can impact on autistic people. As students return to school, this podcast might help teachers focus on how the classroom environment can support all of their students.  

You can find out more about Sharon and Caolán’s new book, “Making Space for Autism” here https://pavpub.com/learning-disability/autism/making-space-for-autism-strategies-for-assessing-and-modifying-environments 

In the latest episode of the podcast, we talk to Dr Peter Vermeulen about his recent work and how our understanding of autism has changed over the years.  

Learning about an autism diagnosis and making sense of what that diagnosis means personally, can feel like an overwhelming task for lots of young autistic people. On our latest podcast, Sarah O’Brien chats to us about her own experience post-diagnosis and what she wishes she had known while on that journey.  

You can find
more about Sarah’s book, “So, I’m Autistic” here: https://uk.jkp.com/products/so-im-autistic 

Masking is something that impacts all autistic people. In this podcast, we speak to researchers and advocates, Dr Amy Pearson & Kieran Rose, who have recently published a book on the topic, “Autistic Masking”. They break down the complicated idea of masking, explain its impact and give advice for people navigating their own experience of masking.  

Dr Carly Jones MBE joins us on this week’s podcast. Carly was a huge hit at the Middletown Conference this year. She joined the podcast to talk about her passion for safeguarding and the experiences that brought her to autism advocacy.  

Dr Alyssa Alcorn joins us on this week’s podcast. Alyssa presented at the Middletown Conference to a packed room. She joined the podcast to talk about the neurodiversity-affirming LEANS Project for primary schools 

Professor Sue Fletcher Watson joins us on this week’s podcast. Sue was one of the keynote speakers at the Middletown Conference where she was discussing neurodiversity.  We continue that conversation and find out how the neurodiversity paradigm guides her research