Autism Arena Team
Introducing the Autism Arena Team
Dr Gillian Rogers
My experience is from working as a General Practitioner, having a qualification in autism, and having lived experience as a parent carer of both autistic and neurodivergent children. I am currently part of the autism subgroup at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. I understand what it is like to have both a neurotypical brain and a neurodivergent one, having had a stroke in my brain’s processing centre affecting sensory signals and executive functioning skills.
I help parent carers work out what might be causing their child to struggle by identifying their needs and how to best support them. I want to help get things right for children as soon as possible as it impacts their life experiences and opportunities. Autism has become a passion, so I founded Autism Arena to encompass all opportunities around support and positive change. I am honoured to be joined on this journey with 2 friends from antenatal classes: Edwina and Nikki, who each have incredible personal and professional experience working with children, autism and neurodiversity.
Edwina Subritzky
My teaching career, over the course of 20+ years, has led me to have a passion for supporting our most vulnerable learners. I have been a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) for the past 7 years, gaining my Masters in Special Educational Needs Coordination from Middlesex University. I am committed to supporting children and young people to reach their full potential.
I enjoy working closely with families on all things SEN related including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and Speech & Language needs. I am able to support and guide them through the assessment process.
My own lived experience of having a daughter with Autism gives me first hand knowledge of the challenges and adaptations a family might encounter right from early concerns, through to diagnosis and ensuring the right provision is in place.
I am excited to be part of Autism Arena, working alongside Gill and Nikki to support parents, carers and professionals.
Nikki Wilson
Through my involvement with Autism Arena, I am committed to creating the best possible environment for neurodivergent children to thrive. I am a qualified social worker with over 20 year experience supporting children and families. Whilst supporting families in a range of circumstances, nothing has been more important than building genuine connections to really understand people’s experiences and support them in the best way possible. I have personal experience of parenting two neurodivergent children. I do not profess to be an expect but I do have a good understanding of what’s needed to navigate the system both from a personal and professional perspective.
I have a particular interest in girls’ experiences of autism, PDA and ADHD as I am very aware of the additional challenges faced by those who do so well at masking and the significant impact this then has on their mental health. My passion is ensuring children have a voice, equipping parents to advocate for their children and supporting professionals to learn from lived experience.