Keep Calm
IT’S JUST A DIFFERENT WAY
OF THINKING!
Our mission is to share our experience, knowledge and understanding.
By highlighting the autistic voice and current best, evidence-based practice we gather and disseminate information and resources and signpost to relevant organisations.
What we do
The 10 Questions
The 10 Questions is an online resource for schools (click on the link at the top of the page for more info.)
The autistic ‘voice’ represented throughout
24/7 access to information, guidance, downloadable resources, videos
Current best autism practice
Evidence based
Regularly updated
Autism Sessions & Workshops
With an emphasis on the autistic voice, we deliver sessions to schools, nurseries and other organisations. Here’s a flavour of what we offer
What Actually Is Autism/Neurodiversity?
Autism In The Classroom: Current Best Practice
Pathological Demand Avoidance – What Is Is And Isn’t
Understanding & Supporting ‘Challenging’ Behaviour at Home
Understanding & Supporting Friendships And Relationships
Sensory Differences
My Autistic Child Is So Anxious. Help!
Support for Families
We support families via our parent/carer sessions which are usually delivered in/hosted by schools
Aim of sessions is to upskill, empower and encourage parents/carers to network and support each other
Monthly sessions delivered locally
Diagnosis is not required to attend the sessions – pre and post diagnostic support
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME…
Since graduating as a primary teacher (with an additional nursery qualification) in 1982, my experience has been wide and varied. I have 40 plus years experience teaching, leading and working alongside parents and professionals. This, in combination with my experience beyond education, demonstrates my commitment to motivating, inspiring and leading others.
During my teaching career I worked in mainstream schools, general additional support needs schools and autism specific establishments as a class teacher, early years specialist support teacher, autism outreach teacher, inclusion teacher and principal teacher in an autism base.
For 6 years I was a volunteer telephone Counsellor with ChildLine Scotland. After completing my initial training I counselled weekly (often more). I became part of a team designing training for and delivering training to newly appointed counsellors. Subsequently, I was invited to become a joint facilitator delivering ongoing training to existing counsellors. I worked as part of the ‘outreach’ team presenting information about ChildLine to the community.
At the same time, for around 4 years, I was a volunteer tutor with Dyslexia Scotwest. I supported dyslexic children and young people and their families at home. I was part of a project working alongside other members of Dyslexia Scotwest to interview and select potential tutors and, thereafter, jointly facilitated training for those tutors.
In September 2017 I took early retirement from teaching and Love Autism was established.
Alongside running Love Autism, I worked for HOPE for Autism, an autism charity in North Lanarkshire, where I spent 2 years as a family support worker providing emotional support, advice and guidance to parents and carers.
I’m a third party approved provider of training for The PDA Society.
More recently, I have become a freelance trainer for the Salvesen Mindroom Centre, an Edinburgh based charity that works closely with Edinburgh University to champion all forms of neurodiversity.
