Bio
I’ve spent over 17 years working within SEND, autism and neurodiversity, and I genuinely can’t imagine doing anything else.
My career began as a SEND Higher Level Teaching Assistant, supporting autistic children and young people within education. Since then, my journey has taken me through autism consultancy, family support, service leadership and now Assistant Director & Head of Inclusive Practice.
Alongside my professional roles, I’ve always been passionate about continuing to learn and develop. I’ve completed qualifications in Autism Awareness, Neurodiversity & Inclusion, SEND Law, Diversity & Inclusion Leadership and Train the Trainer, because I believe the more we learn, the better we can support others.
Although my job titles have changed over the years, as a late diaganosed autistic woman my purpose never has. I’ve always wanted autistic people, neurodivergent individuals and their families to feel understood, accepted and valued.
One of the greatest privileges of my career has been leading the Autism Central North West Hub, where I worked alongside hundreds of families, helping them navigate diagnosis, education, mental health, relationships and everyday challenges. I recruited and supported a team of neurodivergent volunteers, developed partnerships and helped shape a service that gave parents somewhere to turn when they felt overwhelmed or alone.
As Head of Inclusive Practice, and now Assistant Director, I wanted to take those same values and embed them across the whole organisation. My role has never been about writing policies for the sake of it; it’s been about helping create a culture where inclusion becomes part of everyday conversations and decisions. Supporting managers to understand neurodiversity, embedding reasonable adjustments, improving communication, developing psychologically safe teams and making sure colleagues and families feel listened to have all been important parts of that journey.
Alongside my leadership role, (which I am very proud of- as statistically as an autistic woman I am in the minority in leadership) I’ve delivered autism and neurodiversity training to NHS services, schools, charities, employers and organisations including the National Trust and British Rail. I’ve always believed that increasing understanding creates lasting change, and I love helping people see autism through a different lens. And that is where my passions lie.
So my commitment to inclusion doesn’t stop when I leave work.
For almost a decade I’ve written about autism, beginning with my blog A Slice of Autism. Since then I’ve written articles for HuffPost, The Mighty, Special Needs Jungle and Autism Parenting Magazine, spoken at the Autism Show in Manchester, worked alongside the National Trust to help create more inclusive events and continued supporting parents through writing, speaking and sharing practical advice.
More recently I created Auti40, sharing my own journey as a late-diagnosed autistic woman. What began as a personal project has grown into an online community alongside a Facebook community of more than 10,000 people, where I hope others feel seen, accepted and less alone.
Being autistic myself has shaped how I lead, but it doesn’t define my work. It simply reminds me every day that inclusion isn’t about changing people to fit into systems—it’s about creating systems where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Whether I’m supporting one family, delivering training to hundreds of professionals or helping shape organisational culture, my aim has always been the same: to leave people feeling more understood than they did before they met me.
Why do you feel you have been selected for the Head of Diversity & Inclusion Award?
Only the person who nominated me can answer that with certainty, but I hope it’s because I’ve tried to make inclusion something people genuinely experience rather than something we simply talk about.
Throughout my career I’ve listened to autistic people and their families and used those experiences to influence the way services are designed, delivered and led.
As Head of Inclusive Practice I worked to ensure inclusion became everyone’s responsibility, not just the responsibility of one department. I supported colleagues to think differently about accessibility, encouraged managers to understand neurodiversity, embedded reasonable adjustments and promoted environments where people felt psychologically safe to ask for what they needed.
Outside work I’ve continued that same commitment through writing, speaking, advocacy and supporting families. Inclusion isn’t something I switch on when I arrive at work; it’s become part of who I am.
What diversity initiatives have you implemented across Age, Disability, Gender, LGBT+, Race and Religion & Faith?
Throughout my career I’ve believed inclusion begins by understanding the individual.
Although much of my work has focused on disability and neurodiversity, I’ve always wanted everyone to feel respected, welcomed and able to contribute.
Disability
As Head of Inclusive Practice I embedded neuro-affirming approaches across the organisation by supporting managers, improving accessible communication, encouraging reasonable adjustments, reviewing policies, developing psychologically safe teams and ensuring accessibility became part of everyday practice rather than an afterthought.
I’ve also delivered autism and neurodiversity training to NHS services, police forces, schools, charities, employers, British Rail, the National Trust and many other organisations, helping improve understanding and accessibility beyond my own workplace.
Age
I’ve worked with children, young people, adults and older parents throughout my career. Within the workplace I’ve mentored colleagues, supported professional development and encouraged people to grow regardless of age or experience.
Gender
I’ve always encouraged equality of opportunity and created environments where everyone feels respected, heard and valued. As a female leader I’ve particularly enjoyed supporting colleagues to develop confidence and progress into leadership roles.
LGBT+
I’ve encouraged respectful communication, inclusive language and environments where colleagues and families feel able to be themselves without fear of judgement.
Race
Supporting families from many different backgrounds has taught me the importance of listening before making assumptions. I’ve encouraged culturally aware practice and promoted services that are welcoming and responsive to every family.
Religion & Faith
I’ve worked to ensure services remain flexible, respectful and accessible, recognising that inclusion means valuing and accommodating different beliefs, traditions and individual circumstances.
What impact have these initiatives had on your workplace?
The greatest impact has been cultural.
I’ve seen colleagues become more confident discussing neurodiversity, asking questions, supporting one another and recognising the importance of individual adjustments.
Managers have become more proactive in identifying barriers and creating solutions before problems arise.
Families have consistently told us they felt listened to, understood and accepted. Many parents shared that Autism Central was the first place where they truly felt someone understood both their child and their own experience.
The training I’ve delivered has also created wider impact beyond our organisation, helping professionals across healthcare, education, policing, charities and employers develop greater confidence in supporting autistic people.
For me, the greatest measure of success is hearing someone say, “I finally feel understood.”
Have you or your company received any accolades as a result of your work surrounding equality, diversity and inclusion?
Recognition has never been my motivation, but being nominated for this award is something I’m incredibly proud of because it represents many years of trying to make a positive difference.
Throughout my career I’ve developed strong partnerships with organisations including NHS services, police forces, schools, employers, charities and the National Trust, helping improve understanding of autism and neurodiversity across different sectors.
Outside my employed role I’ve continued promoting inclusion through writing, public speaking and advocacy. I’ve written for HuffPost, The Mighty, Special Needs Jungle and Autism Parenting Magazine, spoken at the Autism Show in Manchester and created online communities supporting thousands of autistic people, parents and families.
Seeing Auti40 grow into a community where people feel safe to share their experiences has been one of my proudest achievements because it reminds me that sometimes simply helping someone feel less alone can have a lasting impact.
Referee
Name: Emma Mander
Role: CEO
Organisation: Great Minds Together
Email: emmamander@gmt.team
Telephone: 0161 510 5110
Closing Statement
If there’s one thing I’d like people to remember about me, it’s not the job titles I’ve held or the qualifications I’ve gained. It’s that throughout my career I’ve always tried to make people feel seen, understood and accepted.
For me, inclusion has never been a job description. It’s been a thread running through almost every part of my life. Whether that’s supporting one family through a difficult day, influencing organisational culture, delivering training to professionals or sharing my own lived experience through writing and advocacy, my hope has always been the same: that the world becomes a little more understanding for the next autistic person who walks into it.
