The Middletown Centre for Autism Podcast

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/produ...

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    

  This week on the Middletown podcast we meet Roisin McAnulty. She talks about her experiences growing up & the choices she's made as an autistic parent to autistic children (including author & naturalist, Dara)  Roisin will be speaking at the Middletown Conference this month 

The centre is celebrating some of our brilliant autistic community members in the Middletown podcast. In this episode we chat to Brian Irwin, autism advocate and Board Member with AsIAm, about his thoughts on growing up & becoming an advocate 

The Centre is continuing to celebrate our autistic community members in the podcast. In this episode we chat to Zoe McCormack, researcher & founder of the Autistic Art Club. She talks about mental health & the power of art   Trigger Warning: mention of suicide    

The Centre is continuing to celebrate our autistic community members in the podcast. In this episode we talk to Elaine McGoldrick, researcher & retired teacher. She talks about her experience growing up undiagnosed & her drive to support autistic students   Elaine will be speaking at the Middletown Conference next month. Find out more here: https://www.middletownautism.com/social-media/mid...

For Autism Acceptance Month, the Middletown Podcast is celebrating some of our autistic community members. In this episode we learn more about Bobby Trundley, the autism advocate & multi-award winning motorsport driver.

“It is the world that is inept, not us. And when we are put in situations where we do have the ability to thrive, our fairy tales and our happily ever afters are going to be so incredibly magical.”  Powerful words from Chloe Hayden, author, activist and actress.  Listen more to Chloe’s experiences of being neurodivergent in this podcast recorded with Gemma O’Brien at the recent AsIAm conference.  

Continuing our podcast series in the build up to World Autism Accepatance Month, the Centre is delighted to share another insightful podcast recorded at the AsIAm conference last month.  This time Gemma O’Neill interviews Dr Wenn Lawson.  He discusses his passion for research and the importance of co-production, but also the challenges experienced by autistic researchers and the right to access a...

Pet owners gain a gain a huge amount of joy from their pets. In this  podcast Dr Cat Hughes (Researcher, Middletown Centre for Autism) talks to Dr Ana Maria Barcelos, a researcher at @universityoflincoln. Her research looks at how dog ownership can positively impact wellbeing & even suicidal thoughts in autistic adults. You can find out more about Ana’s study in our upcoming Research Bulletin....

In this podcast you will hear an open and honest account of the teaching experiences of a newly qualified teacher in Fleming Fulton School.  She discusses the impact on her autistic students of getting the correct visual supports in place and acknowledges the support received by the school from Middletown Centre for Autism. Acknowledgements: Helen Forde, Tracey McGovern and  Hannah Jordan.

Many young people will be preparing to make a significant life transition over the coming weeks.  Starting third level education is a major milestone, and for autistic people, it requires careful planning and additional support.  In this podcast interview, Claire Smyton talks about her son’s experience of making the transition from special school to college last September.  She explains his specif...

In this podcast teachers Elaine, Aisling, Máire and Éabha discuss teaching autistic pupils in an Irish-medium environment with Dáithí Murray.  In recent years, the number of autism classes in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools has greatly increased. So too has the number of children benefiting from Irish-medium education and the immersion model from naíonra onwards.  The panel will share some of t...

In this podcast, Cat Hughes (Researcher, Middletown Centre for Autism) interviews Ellie Buckley (Research Fellow in East London NHS Foundation Trust).  She discusses research carried out when she was Honorary Research Associate, University College London.  The research examined employment experiences of autistic people in the performing arts, and Ellie offers advice to young people interested in a...

In this week of international autism acceptance, the Centre is delighted to share a podcast interview in which Cat Hughes (Middletown Centre for Autism) converses with Mel Romuladez (Centre for Research in Autism and Education).  They discuss the challenges of disclosing a diagnosis in the workplace and the importance of employers creating an ethos of acceptance and understanding. 

 To mark the start of Autism Acceptance week learning , the Centre is sharing this podcast recorded by Helen Forde (Specialist teacher, Middletown Centre for Autism) with Kevin Warde and Shauna Lyness from Lismore Comprehensive School.  This is an example of a school which has placed a focus on how the school can accept and meet the diverse learning styles of all students.  They discuss changes ad...

Whole School Interview with James from Harberton School with James and Middletown Centre for Autism Helen Forde 

interview Coordinated by Catherine Latimer (Research Team Middletown Centre of Autism) and with Helen Lynch  (University College Cork senior Lecturer) 

 In this episode, one of the Centre’s specialist teachers, Breiffni O’Reilly, interviews Mary Sharkey, Autism Coordinator in a post primary school.   They discuss the partnership between the school and Middletown Centre for Autism, and the importance of supports for emotional regulation.  Mary recommends a range of online resources, podcasts and webinars which can be accessed on the Social Media s...