Katie (she/they)

Autism Partnership Lead for VAS and Chair of Sheffield Autism Partnership Network

I am a late-diagnosed Autistic person, diagnosed in 2022 at 27 years old. My experiences as an Autistic and ADHD woman, as well as being physically disabled, have driven many of my passions around improving awareness of Autism and access to appropriate services in marginalised communities - whether that’s in terms of gender identity and expression, sexuality, race, ethnicity or other disabilities.

As chair of SAPN, my job is to connect organisations with opportunities to collaborate with one another and with statutory services, connect them to funding streams, ensure their voices are heard in strategic spaces and empower them to provide the best support possible within their communities. I also host the monthly network meetings, giving organisations a space to meet with each other, share their current work and get feedback and support.