About AJ
Hi, I'm AJ — I'm autistic and have ADHD. Welcome to my brain!
I am a psychology graduate based in the North East who specialises in autism and ADHD. I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 15 and, while this helped explain some of the ways that I was feeling and how I was experiencing things, it never felt like the full story. I went on to study psychology with child development at university, which is when I realised I was autistic. The fact that I was given an autism support mentor may also have been a sign! Living away from my neurodivergent home, in a largely neurotypical world, I learned more about who I am and how I experience life. I was given a formal diagnosis aged 20.
I am passionate about sharing my lived experiences and educating others about what it is to be neurodivergent. I am also passionate about supporting others who are on the same journey.
I believe strongly that if you want to learn about neurodivergency, the best people to talk to are neurodivergent people themselves.
What do I do?
- I work alongside neurodivergent children in schools.
- I deliver a range of training to professionals and families.
- I create training materials and resources for other training providers to support the delivery of neuro-affirming courses.
- I create animations for training, and I work alongside children to create animations that support them to explore their own diagnosis in new, neuro-affirming ways.
- I am involved with a number of strategy groups looking at support and provision for neurodivergent people across local authorities.
Training
I provide courses and training to meet a range of requirements for businesses, schools, medical professionals, and families. This training combines theoretical knowledge and understanding with lived experience — explaining how the neurodivergent brain works and sharing how this looks and feels in real life. I also explore the strategies I use to support myself and others, and ways to support neurodivergent people within your setting.
Animations
I create animations and infographics that can be used for a range of purposes, including training. These short 2–4 minute animations can be commissioned to cover any topic surrounding neurodiversity. Past commissions have included:
- Listening and attention in schools
- Monotropic focus
- Shared responsibility for communication
- Autism and ADHD co-occurrence
- Animations and infographics to support the presentation of university research projects
Resources
I produce artwork and information packs that can be used to support people to understand different aspects of neurodiversity. These include information packs, resources for use in schools, and visual resources. They can be commissioned for any training purposes or are available to purchase online.
Background
- BA Psychology with Child Development
- Neurodiversity consultant and trainer
- Teaching assistant (part-time)
- Lived experience: autistic and ADHD