Neurodiversity-Affirming
Supporting Autistic People
Grow and Thrive
“Community is magic.
Community is power.
Community is resistance.”
Alice Wong
Helen Edgar
Autistic Advocate, Author & Consultant
AuDHD, Neuro-Affirming Autism Advocate & Consultant.
Writer, Trainer, Resource Creator.
Interests: monotropism, flow, burnout & neuroqueer theory.
Former SEND EY/Primary teacher specialising in supporting those with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities.
About Me
I am late identified Autistic and ADHD, and a parent to two neurodivergent children.
Qualified Early Years/Primary teacher:
20 years working in SEND Early Years / Primary settings near Birmingham in the UK
(specialism: profound and multiple learning disabilities ).
About My Work
I offer Autism consultancy and training for individuals, families and organisations, in addition to being a published writer. I am dedicated to helping people understand Autism and disability through a neurodiversity-affirming and rights-based approach.
My Values
Being
Neurodiversity-affirming support for young Autistic people. I recognise differences as unique attributes rather than deficits.
My work is trauma-informed and strengths-based to help focus on an individual’s capabilities and potential whilst also recognising the difficulties being neurodivergent can bring in a world not set up for us. I take a low-demand approach, which creates a supportive environment that allows for the development of meaningful connections so individuals can express their authentic selves and advocate for their needs.
Belonging
A sense of belonging is important for well-being. To enable young Autistic people to flourish they first need to feel accepted, to feel understood and to have a sense of belonging.
Developing meaningful relationships and being in an environment that meets sensory, social, and communication needs is really important for fostering a sense of belonging and supporting good mental and physical health. My writing, resources and signposting all promote a neuro-affirming practice so people can make sense of their lives and feel that they belong.
Becoming
Young Autistic people deserve to be able to embrace their authentic Autistic identity. I believe it is important to gain an understanding of Autism through a neurodiversity-affirming lens and to reject the pathologising paradigms that have caused so much harm to neurodivergent people.
Understanding and embracing the neurodiversity paradigm will help parents, carers, and professionals support young Autistic people in becoming the people they want to be. We want everyone to achieve their potential and to be able to thrive in the best ways that work for them.
Special Interests Include
Theory of Monotropism and Burnout
Currently working with
Professional Steering Groups with
Manchester Uni – Families Supporting Young People Experiencing OCD
Birmingham Uni – Autistic Perception & Young Autistic People
PANS/PANDAS Charity UK
References available on request.
Member of
Supporting Young Autistic People in Education and at Home
Discover neurodiversity-affirming resources to help you develop a better understanding of Autism to support the well-being of young Autistic people in educational settings and the family home.
Re-Storying Autism
A Framework For Families, Parents, And Carers:
Reimagining Support For
Autistic People
Re-Storying Autism is a collaborative course book and workbook for families, parents, and carers supporting Autistic people. Grounded in NeuroHub Community Ltd’s six-point framework, it centres learning and partnership, inviting readers to honour authentic Autistic needs, identities, and ways of being through relationships and environments, rather than attempting to fix or change individuals.
With dedicated sections for carers, family members, Autistic young people (8+), and Autistic adults, the book can be read as a standalone resource or used alongside the on-demand course for a deeper, more practical exploration of working together, building shared understanding, and supporting Autistic people to thrive in everyday life.
License available for professionals.
Book reviews
Re-Storying Autism: A Framework for Families, Parents, and Carers: Reimagining Support for Autistic People
By David Gray-Hammond and Helen Edgar
★★★★★
Re-Storying Autism offers a rare blend of autistic-led theory, science, lived experience, and practical application that reshapes how families understand support. I especially appreciate how it centers sensory experience, interoception, burnout, identity, and belonging as foundational, not secondary. The reflection questions woven throughout consistently guide curiosity and thoughtful growth. This is the kind of resource that helps people build environments where Autistic people can live with more felt safety, dignity, and self-trust. Highly recommend.
Kelly Mahler, OTD
Author of The Interoception Curriculum
★★★★★
I feel like every autistic person, every home or public space where an autistic person lives should have a copy of your book at hand. It isn’t hyperbole to say that it is the definitive autistic Bible.
So many times, reading through it, I was overwhelmed with joy, thinking that I am so glad that I lived long enough to see this book. It is foundationally resonant with everything that we as autistic people, more than the sum of the parts, have discovered and affirmed for ourselves. It is a precious antidote to the continued (and profitable) sea of misinformation pushed by all of the “experts” — who are almost always neuronormative — that continues to have a tidal wave ensuring autistic suffering.
I just couldn’t be prouder of the way this is so succinctly organised, warmly engaging, far-reaching and connective in the ways that our minds work, and most of all so deeply affirming of the beauty of our way of being. Thank you for the opportunity to share this truly amazing work.
Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes
Co-Director, Cultural Autism Studies at Yale
★★★★★
Re-framing is the first step toward a new paradigm. “Re-Storying Autism” invites us to move beyond deficit-based narratives and into the neurodiversity paradigm, where Autistic ways of being are understood as valid, meaningful, and human. When we re-story, we shift from fixing people to questioning systems—and from performance to authenticity. At Stimpunks, we see authenticity as our purest freedom: something to be respected, protected, and made possible through environments that allow people to be fully themselves. “Re-Storying Autism” respects, protects, and makes possible our freedom to be authentically ourselves. Highly recommended.
Ryan Boren
Stimpunks
Neurodiversity-Affirming
Webinars, Workshops and Training
Providing neurodiversity-affirming training, workshops, and educational resources for families and professionals to support young neurodivergent people.
CPD-Accredited Professional Training
Tracy Jones and I are working together to provide training for schools and organisations. We explore neurodiversity-affirming ways of supporting Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent children and young people in education.
These training sessions are designed for settings in the UK and can be tailored to meet your individual needs.
Lectures, seminars, and workshops are also available for organisations, teacher-training, education, health, and social care course providers.
Delivered by our sister brand Neuro-Affirming Training.
Workshops
- Neuro-affirming Autistic identity
- Low-demand parenting and teaching strategies
- Methods to support young people who may be experiencing barriers to education
- Understanding burnout and exploring ways forward
- Embracing the theory of Monotropism
I offer bespoke workshops and webinars tailored to individual organisations to meet the needs of neurodivergent families.
Resources
Downloadable resources including
e-books, infographics, and more!
Writing
I write about my personal journey and the understanding I have gained so far about being Autistic and through working with Autistic young people and their families.
My writing focuses on understanding the neurodiversity paradigm, embracing neuro-affirming theory and practice, and working towards a humanistic approach to care. I believe in the benefits of developing an understanding of Autistic identity so that people feel empowered to advocate for themselves or support their loved ones or those they work with. It is by developing a deeper understanding of Autistic experience that we can build connections and form communities and a sense of belonging.
Autistic Realms is where I share grounded, neuro-affirming support for families, educators and allies to support Autistic people…
But there’s another thread woven through everything I do…
A slower, stranger, space for art, literature, poetry, philosophical unravellings, and deep neuroqueering ways of becoming…
You’re warmly invited through the portal into More Realms.
This is a space for those who long to wander deeper, into the wild edges of thought, where nature invites pause, neuroqueer ideas take root, and sensory worlds unfold.
A place to linger, to meander through tangled textures, and to drift in spiral time.
Partnerships and Collaborations
I’m active in the neurodivergent community and regularly collaborate with like-minded people, organisations and charities. Together, we explore various aspects of neurodiversity and create resources, training and workshops to support families, professionals and the wider community.
Featured In
Learn More and Contact
Read some testimonials and feedback here.
I have been nominated for the
National Diversity Awards 206
You can place your vote here
All images are created on Canva unless otherwise stated. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International. This license requires that reusers give credit to Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms) as creator. It allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form and for noncommercial purposes only.
© BY: Credit must be given to Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)
© NC: Only noncommercial use of Helen Edgar’s (Autistic Realms) work is permitted. Noncommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation.
ND: No derivatives or adaptations of my work are permitted.