The Middletown Centre for Autism Podcast

Send us Fan Mail
In the latest Middletown Podcast, we chat to autistic researcher and science communicator, Rebecca Ellis. Rebecca is a researcher at Swansea University and she’s part of a project looking at the health experiences of people assigned female at birth. The part of her work that we chat about is focused on menstruation. We talk about the impacts of periods, what autistic people wish they knew about them and what changes might improve things for autistic people who have periods.

Send us Fan Mail
In the latest episode of the Middletown Podcast, we talk with Helen Edgar from Autistic Realms about monotropism and how a deep, interest-led attention style can bring  joy. We also talk about the challenges in school and daily life in monotropic processing is not supported. We take the theory into the classroom, focusing on practical ways to reduce overload, support learning, and prevent autistic burnout without forcing compliance.

Send us Fan Mail
On the latest Middletown Podcast, we’re joined by the wonderful students from New-Bridge Integrated College. Logan, Faith, Summer and Molly are part of a post primary peer mentor programme designed to shape an inclusive student culture. They are a neurodiverse group and they all have their own perspective and lived experience. They share their experience and then they take the mic to ask MCA staff for our thoughts on inclusion. We share what inclusion means to us, why assumptions are still a major barrier, and why listening to student voice is the change that lasts.

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, we’re talking about belonging and inclusion. We chat to Louise King, Middletown staff member, who shares her experience supporting autistic children and young people in lots of different school settings. We talk about the importance of inclusion, where challenges might arise and how to address them. Louise shares really useful examples and practical ideas.

Send us Fan Mail
A pupil walks into a classroom and instantly scans for one thing: am I safe to be myself here? That simple question sits underneath everything we explore with Middletown colleagues Finola McElhatton and Ruth McCausland as we dig into what inclusion really means and why “rightful presence” raises the bar even further.
We talk about what happens when autistic students aren’t included, worries that educators might have and advice for school staff who want to create a safe environment for everyone.