Chair - Project Lead
Sue has a brother and 2 daughters affected by Autism conditions (amongst other family members) and her career started by volunteering on her brothers play scheme when she was 14 .having various roles over the years from working directly with children/adults with special needs/autism to working with families she has a vast & varied range of knowledge education and experience, not just within the autism sector but right across learning disability.  Having co managed a non-profit community care specifically for children and adults affected by autism she realised how families needed to be supported and it was not just about the individual with the diagnosis. The autumn group was developed and founded in ways that will support families specifically for them, as a generic support group cannot always do this and, as autism can be misunderstood, unnoticed at times and judged negatively in society it was felt (by consultation with other parents) that an autism specific support network was not only needed but would be highly valuable. The Autumn Group is somewhere parents and family members can come to and not be judged, categorised or penalised as autism affects in many different ways and everyone has their own individual experiences!

Sue came up with the name as she felt, having lots of experience working in partnership with other charities and organisations over the years that it needed something unique and positive but with an added touch of the 3 letters of Autism, after a long and lengthy research she found a poem named Autumn and this for Sue, summed up exactly what families experience when caring for children and adults affected by Autism, both negatively and positively and she firmly believes this is the case with this condition, you take the “rough with the smooth”.  Sue, as a carer and sibling knows exactly how it feels when it’s rough, but also to look for the smooth and because of her bubbly, honest and straight to the point attitude she strives to make positive changes for other families, on their terms, not what is often dictated by others!  She is an outgoing, outspoken woman who stands out in the crown and is proud to do so.  She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and that is the rights of parents and carers.  She wears her heart on her sleeve and is not afraid to show she cares.