Meet the Team

 I am 42 years old and was diagnosed as autistic as an adult.

I have 2 young adult children  who are also neurodivergent. 

I am also physically disabled with a neurological  condition. 

I spend my free time watching Marvel films and doing which ever new  interest has caught my attention!  

•  Determined
• Organised
• Funny 
• Creative
• Great at explaining!
• Good listener
• Inspiring
• Committed
• Supportive 

•  My family
• Everything to do with Autism!
• Keeping busy
• To work around my abilities
• To keep learning new skills  and sharing them
• Listening to music while I  work
• Having fun with my family in  our own unique way
• Chocolate 
• Birds Eye Chicken Dippers
• Tweezers
• Sleep! And lots of it!!
• Marvel and the Marvel  Cinematic Universe

• Autistic burnout 
• Skin picking
• Sensory processing and anything to  do with the Sensory Library 
• Disability equality and health issues
• Autistic women and girls  

I was diagnosed as autistic at 45 years old. 

I have a son who is also  autistic. 

I have a lot of interests and I enjoy doing a wide variety of "nerdy" things! I love  reading, writing, music and knowing about sports. Most of all, I enjoy fantasy literature, board  games, role-playing games, and particularly playing and running Dungeons and Dragons as  Dungeon Master. 

I am currently running two games of D&D for AIM, one for teenagers and  one for adults. 

I am enthusiastic about supporting other autistic people to grow in confidence,  helping them to communicate more effectively, and enjoying social time with others. 

• Intelligent 
• Reliable 
• Well-organised 
• Sociable 
• Wide range of interesting  and random knowledge 

• Looking after my son
• My family 
• Supporting autistic people to help  them face challenges 
• Music
• Literature
• Art 
• Sport 
• Fantasy role-playing games 
• Collecting knowledge and making  theories about life from that  knowledge 

• Being an autistic parent 
• Having an autistic child 
• Getting diagnosed with autism as  an adult 
• Deep diving interests and their  importance for an autistic person 
• Autistic experiences in education 
• How autistic people can be  supported to remove their  “masks” 
• Discussing being autistic with  neurotypical people 

I am waiting for an autism assessment and was diagnosed ADHD in my mid-30s. I also have anxiety. 

I have 2 children, both autistic and ADHD. 

• Passionate
• Funny
• Kind
• Open
• Honest
• Hardworking

• My family
• Helping people
• Honesty
• Equality
• Ear pods/Loops
• Broad range of music
• Gaming
• Travel
• Culture
• Meeting new people
• Friendships/connection
• Football
• T5 Camper and camping
• Motorbikes

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Autism
• ADHD
• PTSD
• General mental health
• Well being techniques
• Hobbies and interests

My name is Dora, you can also call me Dori. 

I am autistic (was diagnosed at 41) and am currently awaiting an ADHD assessment. I have two children, who are both neurodivergent.

I have lived in various places in the UK in the South and West-country, before settling on the Isle of Wight 14 years ago. 

I enjoy time with my family, our dog, dystopian novels, neurodivergent authors, alternative rock, lots of coffee, Netflix and sea swimming. I value human connections and also some solitude – just ‘being’. 

• Like to help
• Quiet but passionate
• Reflective
• Determined to find solutions
• Like to share books and new interesting info

• My family
• Honesty and fairness
• Connection with those close to me
• Time alone, in quiet
• Loop earplugs and noise cancelling headphones
• My weighted blanket
• Books and audio-books
• Music as loud as possible (Alt. rock mainly)
• Netflix
• Mental stimulation
• Time to think, reflect and learn
• Control
• Not feeling restricted
• Open water swimming 
• Lots and lots of coffee

• Children’s and adult’s mental health
• Being an autistic parent of neurodivergent children
• Overthinking
• Suicidal ideation
• Behaviour as communication
• Accessing local services for family and self as an autistic professional 

 I moved to the Island in 2009, getting away from the London crush.
Diagnosed as autistic at age 51, but conversations about poor mental health with friends had turned me to thinking about it for a couple of years before that.
I program computers, it’s my focus thing… but weirdly, I hate “tech” and can rarely understand my mobile!

• Thinking things through
• Listening
• Helping when I can
• Finding a way to get something done, or explain something, even if its unconventional

•  My partner, family and friends
• Understanding things
• Acting
• Playing guitar, and singing
• Board games
• Making things
• Walking in the woods
• People! People can connect more than they realise
• Coffee and cake
• Doing face-to-face things instead of on-line things, despite my anxieties
• Feeling and embracing strong emotions

• Perfectionism
• Black and white thinking
• Overthinking
• Music
• Writing
• Acting
• (board) Gaming
• Role-playing games, D&D and LARP
• Finding ways to express thoughts and emotions
• Being mislabelled

I am Autistic (PDA) and have ADHD - AuDHD. 

I was diagnosed with both in my late 30s. 

I am also dyspraxic and have  Gravitational Insecurity (GI) which makes me feel as if I’m about to float off into  space a lot of the time and means I also have generalised anxiety. 

I have one  child, and they are also Autistic (PDA) and ADHD. 

• Honest 
• Funny 
• Passionate
• Kind
• Forgiving
• Always up for a takeaway

• My family 
• Things being clean and tidy
• Visual aesthetics
• Calmer Flares
• Control
• Being able to move
• Spreadsheets
• Books
• Coffee, preferably intravenously
• 90’s Brit Pop/Indie
• Honesty
• Smells-I love scented candles
• My weighted blanket
• Quiet and time on my own
• Zelda
• Learning and reflection
• Fairness
• Logic 

• AuDHD
• PDA/Demand Avoidance
• Young people & behaviour
• Suicidal ideation
• Skin picking (visual)
• Self-medicating
• Anxiety
• Gravitational Insecurity 

 I have just completed my  Level 3 Diploma in Early Years with an additional qualification in Sexual Health. 

I find it hard to process and remember lots of information. One or two things at a  time, or writing lists is really helpful. 

If you want me to do something, or help you with something, ask me, I’m happy  to help. 

• Kind
• Funny
• My nails and eyelashes 

• My family 
•  My friends 
• Horror films 
• Music (especially Juice WRLD)
• Make-up/hair/nails 
• Comfy clothes
• Dr. Pepper 
• Hello Kitty!
• Eastenders

•  Processing 
• Growing up in a neurodiverse family 
• How important EHCPs can be for a  child or young person 
• Finding the right friends 

 I am a volunteer for AIM and keep the Sensory Library running. I love being by the sea and gardening, and walking my dog Milly.

More Info Coming Soon

• Gardening
• My dog Milly
• Match 3 games

•  The Sensory Library

My name is Lucy. 

I have a Degree in English and Creative Writing as well as a certificate in Business Administration. 

I find it tricky to process information if there is too much noise. I also struggle with remembering lots of things so I prefer writing things down. 

I have ADHD and I’m currently waiting for my autism assessment.

• My friendliness
• My talents

• The environment
• Social justice
• My family
• My friends

• All things film
• Music
• Photography
• Travel
• Writing
• Crafts
• Gardening
• Planners, stickers & stationery

 I was diagnosed as autistic as an adult.

I am a visual thinker and process information far more easily and accurately through use of pictures or by demonstration.

I experience alexithymia which makes it difficult for me to describe or understand my emotions. 

I have social and generalised anxiety.  

• Creativity
• Attention to detail
• Kindness
• Thinking outside the box (or similar receptacle)
• Planning (and subsequent back-up plans)
• Sense of humour 

•  My family
• Home - my safe space
• London Underground iconography 
• Picture and pop-up books, comics and graphic novels
• Circles, spheres, spirals and cogs
• My sunglasses
• Metal objects - preferably silver in colour
• Stability and predictability 
• Printed circuit boards (PCB’s)
• Respect of all living things and their importance on      this planet
• Shorts with plenty of pockets
• Lego
• Animation
• Time and patience

 Or even better, show me...

• Your interests and passions
• Your ideas and concepts
• Any books with pictures 
• Your collections and ‘finds'