Exploring Cross Cultural Support in Autism Services

A conversation with Fungayi Mandonga

  • 13.01.2026, 12:02

Fungayi Mandonga is a part-time Postgraduate Researcher at the Autism Centre for Education and Research, University of Birmingham. With over 20 years’ experience in the voluntary and social housing sectors, he has worked extensively with autistic adults, individuals with learning disabilities, and those with mental health needs. His roles have spanned frontline support, service management, and the development of new provisions.
A longstanding advocate for inclusive and culturally responsive care, Fungayi is committed to amplifying the voices of marginalised service users. We talked about his doctoral research, which focuses on the experiences of Black African autistic adults in the UK, aiming to inform the development of culturally competent autism services.

Autism and Trauma

A Conversation with Elspeth Bass

  • 02.12.2025, 11:27

I talked to Elspeth Bass about her work and research on Autism, Trauma and Theraplay. Elspeth is an Autistic undergraduate student studying Psychology at the University of Sheffield, with a dedicated interest in trauma and Autism. She is currently completing a placement with Chrysalis Associates, a specialist developmental trauma and attachment service for children in care, where she holds the roles of Research Assistant and Honorary Assistant Psychologist. Her academic and placement experiences have deepened her commitment to research that explores the interaction between Autism and trauma, with a focus on improving outcomes for individuals with complex needs. She is particularly passionate about advancing inclusive, evidence-based approaches within both clinical and research settings.

A Talk with Kevin McLoughlin

Board Member of AsIAm Ireland

  • 25.11.2025, 09:15

Kevin is a an Autistic Special-Needs-Assistant from Country Clare working in primary schools, he is also an AsIAm Ambassador, having previously been a part of the AsIAm Youth Leadership Team for two years before graduating to become a part of the Ambassador Team. AsIAm is an Autism Charity in Ireland and Kevin explains to me, how they work. Find Kevin here.

A conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Guest of Aspiedent

A skeptical view on the Neurodiversity Movement

  • 23.10.2025, 09:37

Dr. Elizabeth Guest (BSc, PhD, PGCHE), who herself has autism, dyslexia, and (very likely) ADHD, established Aspiedent in 2014. Aspiedent started with the aim of helping autistic people and in particular helping autistic people obtain and stay in employment. Today it is also dedicated to making a positive difference in the school and in the world.

In our talk, we address Dr Guests scepticism towards the neurodiverstiy movement. Find her website here: https://aspiedent.com/index.html