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Autistic Parents UK
Autistic Parents UK is an Autistic-led Charity (CIO) committed to supporting Autistic parents in a number of ways:
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online peer support groups (larger and smaller groups)
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monthly webinars and live Q&A sessions
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monthly book giveaways
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local peer support groups
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volunteer-led one to one peer support sessions
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training and professional supervision
We are committed to working reflectively and flexibly to improve our support offering and have many plans for future development.
Our Vision
A world where Autistic parents are empowered, celebrated, and supported to thrive. We envision a society where their unique perspectives are valued, their voices are amplified, and their families flourish without judgement or barriers.
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Our mission
To cultivate a thriving community where Autistic parents connect, learn, and advocate for themselves and their families. We strive to:
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Empower: Equip Autistic parents with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate parenthood authentically.
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Connect: Foster meaningful connections and a sense of belonging among Autistic parents through peer support and shared experiences.
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Educate: Provide accurate, relevant information about autism and parenting, dismantling stigma and promoting understanding.
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Advocate: Champion the rights and well-being of Autistic parents and their families, working towards a more inclusive society.
Our Aims
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Expand Peer Support Network: Continue to grow and diversify our peer support offerings, providing Autistic parents with multiple channels for connection, including facilitated groups, one-on-one support, and online communities.
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Enhance Educational Resources: Expand our library of resources created by and for Autistic parents, covering a wide range of topics relevant to their experiences and needs.
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Deliver Impactful Training: Provide comprehensive training programmes for both Autistic parents and the professionals who support them, promoting understanding, self-advocacy, and positive outcomes for families.
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Foster Collaboration and Advocacy: Build strong partnerships with relevant organisations, healthcare providers, and educators to advocate for the rights and needs of Autistic parents and their families.
Our Values
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Collaboration
We are a user-led group and we are committed to working collaboratively with our beneficiaries to make sure Autistic Parents UK truly supports the needs of Autistic Parents.
Inclusiveness
We are dedicated to be both inclusive of ALL Autistic parents and of the needs of our volunteers and beneficiaries. We want to proactively address all factors that cause barriers to entry for those involved in the running of APUK and those who access support.
Transparency
We are dedicated to being open and honest about our plans, processes and expenses. We will only fundraise when we have a clear goal and rationale to support it. We will always welcome feedback from our beneficiaries.
Compassion
We support people at what ever stage they are at with their understanding of Autism and being Autistic. We treat all people with understanding, respect, compassion and unconditional positive regard.
Our Trustees
Jenni Guthrie
CHAIR & FOUNDING TRUSTEE
Jenni McCabe is Autistic, and a self-identifying ADHDer, she has 3 Autistic children. She is a writer, speaker and social worker with over 15 years of experience in social work practice both in Scotland and England and nearly 25 years working with children and families. She is currently teaching social work students on a master's programme.
Jenni became involved with APUK as she feels passionate about peer community and Autistic-led support, as not only is Autism and other neurodivergence widely misunderstood generally, but especially in relation to parenthood.
Beth Eden
SECRETARY & FOUNDING TRUSTEE
Beth Identified as Autistic in Summer 2020 after a series of events pointed to this as an answer to her questions. She has one child born in 2018.
When looking for support for herself as a newly diagnosed Autistic parent, she realised there wasn’t much available. She wants to be involved in APUK to use her skills to support other Autistic parents.
Beth has ADHD and is involved in many concurrent projects, which can be a challenge, but this has led to knowledge and experience in many different areas.
Beth loves to learn and study. She is particularly interested in neuroscience with a focus on the interactions and connections between the brain, mind and body.
Jules Sharples
FOUNDING TRUSTEE
Jules Sharples is AuDHD Mam of one, a change management professional and a children's writer and illustrator. Navigating the challenges of parenting, Jules recognised a gap in the resources available to parents like her - those who are neurodivergent and raising children in a world that often fails to understand or accommodate these differences.
It was this gap that led Jules to support the founding of APUK. She's passionate about changing the narrative and creating a future where neurodivergent parents have access to the resources they need, free from stigma and misconceptions.
Tanya Adkin
TRUSTEE
Tanya Adkin is an Autistic Autism specialist and Social Work Assistant. Tanya started her career in a local authority disabled children’s team 18 years ago. She holds post-grad qualifications in autism and is currently undertaking a Masters in Autism.
Tanya has a passion for theory & policy to practice. She works 1-2-1 with Autistic people and their families when they may be considered ‘complex’. She has many years of advocacy and SEND experience.
David Gray-Hammond
TRUSTEE
David is a Queer, Autistic, ADHD, and Schizophrenic author. He works as an independent advocate, mentor, and trainer and Public speaker. He runs the Emergent Divergence Facebook page, and has an infant son. David believes that the work done by APUK is a much needed resource for a demographic of parents who face not only their own discrimination, but discrimination against their children. He believes that Autistic parents should have equitable rights to non-Autistic parents and intends to fight until they do.
Monique Botha
TRUSTEE
Monique Botha is an autistic and ADHD autism researcher based at the University of Stirling, focusing on the role of minority stress, victimisation, and discrimination and its impact on the mental health, wellbeing, and quality of life for autistic people. Monique is also a co-founder of an organisation called Community Against Prejudice Towards Autistic people which aims to bring together autistic people, researchers, activists, and other stakeholders. Monique is interested in being involved in Autistic Parents UK as a grassroots charity tackling issues faced by an underserved often unacknowledged community.
CIO ConstitutioN
A downloadable PDF version of our latest CIO Constitution is available here.