In this episode of This Is Autism, we sit down with Bea, a passionate young autistic advocate, to talk about her experiences navigating the education system. From early school years through to sixth form, Bea reflects honestly on the challenges she faced — friendship struggles, masking, anxiety and burnout.

Bea shares how a lack of early understanding and support affected her mental health and school attendance, but also how finding the right environment, such as Newcastle Bridges School, helped her rebuild confidence and feel truly supported. She opens up about the pressures of fitting in, internalised ableism, and the emotional toll of constantly having to explain and justify her needs in order to access support.

The conversation also covers key themes like autistic burnout, the importance of safe spaces and special interests, and the role families play in supporting young people through education. Bea’s story highlights both the systemic issues within mainstream education and the transformative power of inclusive, compassionate approaches that value autistic voices.

Whether you’re a parent, professional, or autistic young person yourself, Bea’s journey offers insights into what needs to change to make education truly inclusive.

16. Education

In this episode of This is Autism, host Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager at the North East Autism Society, sits down with Dr Amy Pearson, a late-identified autistic researcher and assistant professor in psychology at Durham University. Amy’s work focuses on the lived experiences of autistic adults, with a particular emphasis on relationships, masking, and victimisation.

Kerrie and Amy explore the findings of Amy’s award-winning research into interpersonal victimisation—specifically the abuse autistic people may face from those closest to them. Amy explains what interpersonal victimisation means, why autistic people may be more vulnerable in relationships, and how societal framing and masking contribute to these risks.

The episode also celebrates Amy’s new book, which has already received glowing feedback. It’s an insightful conversation that sheds light on the challenges autistic people face in forming safe, meaningful connections, and what we can do to support. 

💬 Listen in to hear:

 * Why autistic people may be more vulnerable in relationships
 * The role of masking and societal expectations
 * What interpersonal victimisation really means
 * How Amy’s research is changing the conversation

14. Relationships

In this episode, North East Autism Society’s Family Development Manager, Kerrie Highcock, speaks with Lauren Osbourne — a talented illustrator and author who has been self-employed since graduating with an MA in Design in 2022. Lauren shares her journey as an autistic creative, from illustrating six published books to writing her own, It’s Ok to Be Me.

Together, they explore the highs and lows of self-employment, why it can be a meaningful path for autistic individuals, and how Lauren has built a career that works for her. With only 3 in 10 autistic people currently in employment, this conversation shines a light on alternative routes to success — and why creating your own path can be empowering.

Whether you're autistic, a parent, educator, or employer, this episode offers valuable insight into how self-employment can support autistic strengths and authenticity.

Building a career: self-employment for autistic people

In this episode, Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager at the North East Autism Society, is joined by Nic King—an autistic trainer, consultant, and founder of PANDAS Online. Nic is also a parent to two neurodivergent children and brings both lived and professional experience to today’s conversation.

Together, they explore what it means for autistic young people to understand and embrace their identity. From discussing the importance of a positive autistic identity to when—and how—families might share an autism diagnosis, Nic offers thoughtful, compassionate insights rooted in authenticity and empowerment.

Topics covered include:

· What is a positive autistic identity?

· Is there a “right” or “wrong” time to share a diagnosis?

· How can families approach these conversations?

· The story behind Neurobears—and why pandas?

· Why a strengths-based model matters

· Agency, autonomy, and future plans

13. Autistic young people understanding their identity

James Henderson, 33, from Sunderland, opens up on our ‘This is Autism’ podcast about life before and after receiving his autism and ADHD diagnosis at 32.   

Struggling with anxiety, frustration, and mental health challenges, it was a single Instagram post that sparked James’s journey to understanding himself. “It described this rage that starts in your stomach and spreads through your whole body. I wasn’t violent — just so irritated all the time. That’s when I realised, I needed to do something.”   

James shares how therapy and support led him to his diagnosis, and helped him finally make sense of his experiences and who he is. Around 70–80% of autistic people experience mental health conditions, yet many face misdiagnosis, stigma, and a lack of proper support.  

In the UK, 70% of people in inpatient mental health hospitals are autistic. Let’s talk about autism, mental health, and why early support matters. Special thanks to host Alex Davies and Brothers of Purpose Podcast for producing this episode.   

Time codes for this episode:  

2:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=120s] Late diagnosis  

2:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=143s] The Instagram Moment  

3:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=213s] Therapy  

6:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=390s] Anxiety  

11:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=660s] Childhood  

12:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=765s] Diagnosis  

18:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=1080s] Changes after diagnosis  

20:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=1200s] Mental health  

21:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=1260s] ADHD and medication  

24:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=1485s] Life after diagnosis  

28:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=1680s] School  

33:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=1980s] Impact of diagnosis and work 

 37:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=2250s] Sense of justice  

40:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=2400s] Communication  

41:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=2460s] Masking 

 45:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnngX2JT544&t=2700s] Perception

12. 'The Instagram moment' - life before and after my autism diagnosis

Just 1 in 5 autistic people are in employment - the worst rate of any disability group. 

Ashley Jones, Business Analyst for the North East Autism Society shares his experience of being diagnosed autistic, finding employment, supporting employers and helping others find their dream jobs. 

Episode breakdown: 

1:50      Diagnosis

3.55      What does autism mean to you

7:55      Masking

9.28      Barriers to employment

11:00   Reasonable adjustments in the workplace

13.40   Positive disclosure

14:45   Common misconceptions

16:44   How can we make employment better

11. Employment 

Research shows that getting the right support early on can make a big difference to a child’s experiences at school and their mental health further down the line.

However, hundreds of thousands of children are currently on the waiting lists for an autism diagnosis, with their families often having to cope by themselves while they wait.

In conversation with Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager at NEAS, Dr Helen Leonard and Mum, Lyndsey Morgan, explore how the process works, what parents can do, and why early support is so important.

Find out more about our Little Stars appeal - www.ne-as.org.uk/little-stars 

10. Early support

Katie Toner shares her journey of self-discovery, explaining how, before her diagnosis, she often felt anxious and out of place. After receiving her diagnosis, Katie realised she wasn’t broken, just different, and began to understand how to thrive in her unique way.

Using her personal experiences, Katie now helps neurodivergent children and young people embrace their individuality and learn to communicate their needs. She founded Dark Sky Sleepovers, [https://www.darkskysleepovers.co.uk/] a business offering themed events, and The Wild Bunch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-toner-unite-club/], which provides training in sensory regulation.

In this episode Katie talks to Kerrie Highcock, family development manager at NEAS about the diagnostic process and how it has shaped her life.

9. Autism Diagnosis 

In this episode Kerrie Highcock, family development manager at NEAS chats to Amy Burgess, who was diagnosed with ADHD at 15 and as autistic at the age of 20. Amy is a psychology graduate who is passionate about sharing her experiences with others about what it is to be neurodivergent.

Amy says she didn’t really understand who she was or how she experienced life until she lived away from home at university. This episode talks about transition from school to adulthood. 

8. Transition from School to Adulthood as an AuDHD Person

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is “Moving more for our mental health”.

Dr Patrick Jachyra  is someone who knows all about this. Patrick is assistant professor in sport and exercise sciences at Durham University and he researches how to support the physical activity and mental health of autistic people.

This is all the more important since statistics show neurodivergent people experience more mental health challenges than the general population.

Music: Aukestra [https://www.aukestra.com/]

7. Physical activity, mental health and neurodivergence

This Is Autism explores the subjects that really matter to autistic people and those who care for them, including masking, sex and relationships, puberty and wellbeing. Hosted by the North East Autism Society [https://www.ne-as.org.uk/], the podcast hears from autistic people about how they experience the world, and offers practical advice along the way. If you are autistic or love someone who is, join us as we tackle the issues that don’t often get talked about.