Autism: In conversation with auticon

We have a brand-new episode of ‘Autism: In conversation with auticon’ to share with you. Hosted by Carrie Grant, our latest episode is all about autistic talent – what that means, what that looks like, how we celebrate it, and how we nurture it.   Carrie is joined by a fantastic panel, including: Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip, Pollen Projects and The Hidden 20%, Dancer & TV Personality Tom M...

Did you know that June 18th marks Autistic Pride Day? We thought, what better way to celebrate than to release a ‘best of’ podcast episode, featuring a selection of guests from the last five series of ‘Autism: In conversation with auticon’.   We hear from an incredible lineup about a wealth of subjects including: what being autistic means to them their stories of diagnosis the strengths autistic p...

There is often lots of learning (and unlearning) to be done when it comes to understanding neurodivergent conditions.   For instance, many of the standard parenting guidelines simply don’t apply to neurodivergent children, meaning parents often have to find their own unique ways of doing things. This can mean re-writing the rulebook to find an approach that works for each individual child and fami...

This Autism Acceptance Month, auticon is talking about the need to better educate people about autism and neurodivergence. It is thought that 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent but with the number of people receiving a diagnosis of ADHD skyrocketing, and autism assessment services seeing unprecedented figures, it is thought that the figure of 15-20% of the global population is probably conservative....

One of the things we are really passionate about is shining a light on best practices, hopefully giving inspiration to others who might want to do more to make the workplace a more inclusive place for neurodivergent people. Sometimes when people from the neurodivergent community request accommodations to be made they can be met with a rejection because ‘if an exception is made for one person, it c...

One of the things we are really passionate about is shining a light on best practices, hopefully giving inspiration to others who might want to do more to make the workplace a more inclusive place for neurodivergent people. Sometimes when people from the neurodivergent community request accommodations to be made they can be met with a rejection because ‘if an exception is made for one person, it c...

It’s Valentine’s Day, which got us thinking about relationships – whether that be romantic relationships, friendships, working relationships, and beyond. So what better theme to start series 5 than that very subject? We really hope you enjoy the first episode: ‘Autism and relationships’.   For anyone new to the podcast, each episode aims to help raise a greater understanding and appreciation of ne...

In this episode the auticon team had the opportunity to 'turn the tables' and interview the host of our podcast series, Carrie Grant MBE. Carrie - mother to four neurodivergent children and long-time advocate for autistic and neurodivergent people, tells auticon exclusively how she has been diagnosed as autistic (in January 2023). The award-winning broadcaster, vocal coach, leadership coac...

Research shows that due to the unequal structures in our society, those who have a diagnosis of autism plus additional intersections, such as gender identity, sexuality, race etc., face multiple barriers. This episode aims to explore what we mean by intersectionality, why it is particularly relevant to the autistic community and hear about people’s lived experiences. Our Guests in This Episode: Na...

A diagnosis of autism can often go hand in hand with a plethora of superb skills, such as pattern recognition and attention to detail. However, sadly, the employment figures for autistic people are depressingly low, with only around 1 in 5 in employment. The purpose of this episode, therefore, is to shine a light on the incredible abilities of those with an autism diagnosis. Our Guests in This Epi...

The number of people diagnosed with autism has increased significantly since the 1990s. This episode looks at what the diagnostic process involves, along with signposting for people who may be looking for more information as they take their next steps towards getting a diagnosis. We’ll also talk about what the implications are for autistic people within the workplace. Our Guests in This Episode: L...

Autistic people can often thrive when the right supports are put in place, but it can be extremely difficult to navigate a variety of systems to obtain the help required. For instance, sourcing additional support within the school environment, or into the wider work environment. This episode looks to discuss some of the resources that are available, as well as provide hints and tips around how to...

Research by auticon reveals that many autistic people in employment choose not to disclose their diagnosis in the workplace. In this episode we look to explore some of the reasons for this, as well as discuss some of the implications that come alongside a working environment in which people do not feel they can be their authentic selves. Our Guests in This Episode: Phillip Scott - Responsible Busi...

Many autistic people go through their whole school career without a diagnosis at all. For those who do receive a diagnosis during this time, it can be hard to then obtain additional support that would enable them to thrive. However, in many cases, the support that is available once in adulthood can drop off a cliff. In this episode we look to explore how far things have come and what more can be d...

There is a common saying amongst the autism community that ‘if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person’. This episode is designed to interrogate this in more detail and hear from people’s lived experience of autism. This can be particularly useful to understand from the perspective of providing personalised supports in the workplace. Our Guests in This Episode: Charlotte Ber...

With several high-profile women speaking out in the media about their diagnosis of autism in the last few months, it has become increasingly clear that more conversations need to be had about what it means to be an autistic woman. From the way autism presents in women compared with men, to the diagnosis process, through to how autism affects women in their daily lives, there are a great many issue...

Like many aspects of autism, the benefits of having autistic people in leadership roles is not one that is readily talked about. Yet there are a number of autistic senior leaders who have carved out highly successful and inspirational careers. This episode looks to debunk the myth that autistic people can’t have fulfilling and high-level careers, as well as provide useful insight into how the gues...

Some of the biggest challenges for autistic people in the workplace can be easily overcome with additional support, specifically in the form or a mentor or dedicated contact who is there to advocate for them. This episode is dedicated to celebrating great examples of this and provide advice/ inspiration for those looking to make their workplace more inclusive and accessible for neurodivergent tale...

Research shows that people with a diagnosis of autism are at an increased risk of some mental health conditions. This means that especially in the workplace, attention needs to be paid to ensure employees do not become overloaded, or suffer from burnout. This episode will shed light on what individuals and employers can do to avoid burnout amongst autistic employees. Our Guests in This Episode: ·...

In business it’s vital to accept that you won’t always know the answers. One of the joys of building businesses and identifying ways to make them successful, is being open to new ideas and insight. It’s also important to accept there will always be things you don’t know and that there is no shame in asking for help from people who know more than you. Business success and creativity depend on it. I...

At auticon, we believe passionately in the benefits of diversity of thought. By using real life examples, we want to shine a light on the value that autistic people can bring when it comes to fresh perspectives and especially what that means for innovation. Our Guests in This Episode: Shelley Ferris Smith - Regional Lead DEIB EMEA at Zurich Insurance Group G Sabini Roberts - LGBTQIA+ Trainer, Acti...

Often the unique perspective that a diagnosis of autism brings can be intrinsically linked to creativity. However, being autistic and having a career in a creative industry is not something that is commonly talked about. This episode looks to explore why being autistic can lend itself so well to a creative profession, as well as advice from others who have successfully secured creative roles. Our...

In this episode, Carrie has a chat with the celebrated, best-selling author and outspoken comic writer, Kathy Lette. Kathy has an inimitable take on serious current issues and she Carrie in a special 1-1 episode, where they share experiences of parenting autistic children. Parenting a child who is autistic can take families on an unexpected journey, from receiving a diagnosis, to adapting parentin...

Parenting a child who is autistic can take families on an unexpected journey, from receiving a diagnosis, to adapting parenting styles accordingly, to acting as your child’s advocate to get the support they need. These standalone episodes look to focus on stories of individual parents who have raised autistic children, giving a voice to their experiences.

Lots of organisations are aware of the benefits of employing a diverse workforce. When it comes to accessing autistic talent, making reasonable accomodations can be key to creating a working environment that is conducive to maximising their abilities. This episode aims to help listeners understand what is meant by reasonable accomodations in the workplace and the impact they can have. Our Guests i...