I am a non-executive director at Autistic UK CIC and an ESRC funded PhD student in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University researching the role of communication in access to healthcare for autistic adults. I have a MSc in social science research methods and in conjunction with my current PhD studies, I lead Autistic UK’s research involvement. Through this, I have worked on several projects with Dr Aimee Grant, including a systematic review of autistic mothers’ experiences of infant feeding.

Before joining Autistic UK, I had a voluntary advocacy role, supporting autistic people and their parents in meetings regarding education supports and disability benefits. I first worked with Autistic UK for their Going Gold event in the Senedd in 2019 where I delivered a talk regarding supporting autistic pupils in education. My role within Autistic UK developed from a focus on education, particularly the possible link between trauma and non-attendance, to health disparities faced by autistic people and barriers autistic people face when accessing healthcare.

I am also on the steering group for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board implementation for the Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services and an active member of the Maternity and Autism Research Group.

My work has seen me win the Understanding Disability Award in 2018 and I was included on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List in 2021.

I broadly have an interest in matters relating to autistic adults’ health and healthcare, but my interest in this project is more personal.

I didn’t know I was autistic when I was pregnant and gave birth to my two children, but I did know that my experiences were unfamiliar to other mums I spoke to until I became more acquainted with the autistic community. Society moralises particular performances of mothering and motherhood, which begin during pregnancy. As someone who ‘failed’ to meet these expectations regularly: I hated being pregnant, I recoiled at the physical attention it drew from strangers, and (in hindsight) it dialled all of my sensory sensitivities up to 1000. I didn’t ‘mother’ my babies in expected ways either, and this all led to me feeling like I was doing it wrong; that I was a ‘bad mother’.

Going back further, when I was an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD teenager, menstruation was almost impossible to deal with. I would be surprised every month when my period arrived again, despite academically knowing that it was a monthly thing. Rather than being supported, when I had to make the embarrassing trip to the school office for sanitary products (again), I was made to feel like I was either wilfully forgetting them, or that my forgetfulness was a moral failing.

I am sure I am not the only one with these experiences, but there are few conversations about autistic people’s reproductive health. If we are to address autistic people’s health disparities, it is crucial that reproductive health from menstruation to menopause is researched. I feel honoured to be part of the team that’s doing it.

I was 32, and I was diagnosed a few years after my eldest son. I was also diagnosed as ADHD within the 12-month period before my autism diagnosis (but I can’t remember if I was 31 or 32).

I am going to break this rule because I have two that I love equally. First, tapping each fingertip to the tip of my thumb in order while ‘playing’ arpeggios in my head. Second, stroking anything soft and fluffy. Preferably a cat or dog, but my dressing gown will do.

Running on trails brings me great joy. It is my ‘balancing act’ joy, as it can exacerbate my physical health conditions, but it is vital for my mental wellbeing. Re-watching Grey’s Anatomy (though I get cross at certain posters in the background, and at the episodes with Dr Dixon – if you know you know). Listening to my favourite songs from start to finish uninterrupted.