The voice is a computer copy of Helen Edgar’s voice.
Other ways to listen: turn on text-to-speech in your browser.
About Helen Edgar
Autistic Advocate, Author & Consultant
“Opening pathways toward authentic identity and belonging”
she/they
Helen Edgar
I’m the founder of Autistic Realms. I support Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent people, families, and professionals to understand Autistic experiences through the theory of monotropism and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Late-identified AuDHD (Autistic & ADHD)
Writer, Educator & Parent to two neurodivergent children
I have a deep interest in bringing the theory of monotropism into practical, relational contexts: translating Autistic ways of thinking, sensing, and attending into accessible tools and resources that can help transform how Autistic lives are understood and supported, enabling people to thrive.
My Story
For over twenty years, I taught in Early Years and Primary settings near Birmingham in the UK, specialising in SEND, including supporting pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD).
My experiences revealed how systems shape access, identity, and well-being — and how unmet needs can lead to distress, physical/mental health challenges, and burnout. These insights led me to create Autistic Realms in 2022.
I aim to help people understand themselves or those they support, advocate for change, and build environments where Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent people can genuinely belong.
My philosophy is relational and justice-oriented. I recognise that thriving is not an individual achievement but a collective process rooted in safety. My aim is not only to challenge the systems that restrict neurodivergent people’s lives, but to reshape understanding so that collective flourishing becomes possible on our own terms.
Who I Work With
I work with:
- Autistic people seeking understanding and self-advocacy
- Parents and carers navigating support systems
- Professionals who want to develop neurodiversity-affirming practice
- Organisations committed to creating inclusive environments
How My Work Helps
I help people to:
- Recognise neurodivergent differences as meaningful ways of being (not as deficits)
- Navigate education, workplace, and healthcare systems with confidence
- Create environments that align with Autistic attention, energy, and sensory needs
- Move beyond mere coping and into sustainable, connected flourishing
What I Do
I integrate academic research, lived experience, community knowledge, and creative practice to offer tools, training, and resources that support families, educators, and practitioners.
🎓 Training & Workshops
Neurodiversity-affirming training, courses and workshops for schools, universities, organisations and healthcare providers across the UK and internationally.
📚 Writing & Resources
Book chapters, journal articles, guest blogs, e-books and infographics on monotropism, burnout, PMLD and affirming practice.
🤝 Consultancy
Organisational consultancy, research advisory roles and co-production to develop neurodiversity-affirming approaches and environments.
🎙️ Speaking & Webinars
Conference talks, guest lectures, webinars and podcasts sharing insights on Autistic experience, in the UK and internationally.
👨👩👧👦 Family Support
Free resources, workshops and guidance for parents and carers supporting young Autistic people through barriers to education and burnout.
🌐 Community Building
Facilitating community spaces and partnerships that weave networks of mutual support, solidarity and advocacy.
Family Support and Workshops
All my workshops and support are for people living in the UK and Ireland. I’m insured, DBS checked (UK) and Garda vetted (Ireland), and I’ve passed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CPCAB). I’m currently studying for Level 3.
Family workshops: after identification
These workshops are for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0 to 18. I don’t work directly with children or young people; my support is for the adults who care for them.
Learning that your child is Autistic, ADHD or both can bring relief, questions, worry and hope all at once. These workshops offer a gentle space to think about what comes next, alongside other parents and carers on a similar path.
Topics may include:
- exploring neuro-affirming, low-demand parenting
- helping your child or young person build a positive sense of identity
- understanding and supporting sensory needs
- recognising and respecting different ways of communicating
- friendships, socialising and finding connection
- working together with school or other education settings
Exploring your Autistic and neurodivergent identity
These workshops are for adults aged 18 and over who are newly identified, self-identified or simply curious. We explore what being Autistic, ADHD or otherwise neurodivergent might mean for you, at your own pace and with no pressure to share more than feels comfortable.
Areas I specialise in
- Autistic burnout and recovery: gentle, unhurried recovery at home and at school.
- Barriers to education: school accommodations, attendance difficulties and alternative routes through education.
- Profound and multiple learning disabilities and higher support needs: tailored support for families.
- Maternity support for new Autistic mothers and birthing parents: a warm, understanding space through pregnancy and the early months.
I’m not a therapist, and these workshops aren’t therapy. They’re educational and exploratory spaces for learning, reflection and peer connection. If you’re looking for therapeutic support, I’m happy to help you find a neuro-affirming practitioner.
Ethics & Values
My work is grounded in the values of the neurodiversity movement and disability justice. I am committed to neurodiversity-affirming, rights-based practice and am against any behaviourist approaches.
Neurodiversity Affirming
Rights-Based
Strengths-Focused
Compassionate
Justice-Oriented
Community-Led
Member & Affiliate
Proud member of these organisations advocating for Autistic rights and wellbeing
Listen & Watch
Podcasts, interviews, and presentations exploring monotropism, burnout, and Autistic experience
🎙️ PODCAST
Interview with Helen Edgar (on the topics of Monotropism, Autistic Burnout, Reclaiming Rest, Masking & more)
The Autism Podcast
A deep dive into how Autistic attention shapes experience, why burnout happens, and how reclaiming rest becomes a radical and restorative practice.
🎙️ PODCAST
DIY, Mutual Aid, and Human-Centered Learning for Neurodivergent and Disabled People w/ Stimpunks
Human Restoration Project with Stimpunks
Discussing neurodivergent-led education, mutual aid, and creating learning spaces for disabled people.
🎬 VIDEO
Interview with Helen Edgar (on the topics of Monotropism, Autistic Burnout, Reclaiming Rest, Mask…
The Autism Podcast (London Autism Group)
In this episode, Helen shares her journey of late AuDHD identification and takes us on a deep dive into the theory of Monotropism
🎬 VIDEO
Helen @AutisticRealms-w4k – slow down AND
The Sensory Projects
Helen from Autistic Realms has over 20 years experience of teaching people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, her first tip is to slow down and take time…
🎬 VIDEO
Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic
Thriving Autistic
Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic is a short animated film capturing the powerful realisations shared by Autistic adults as they discover more about themselves—and each other.
🎬 VIDEO
Live Q&A (recording) – Monotropism and Autistic Parenting with Tanya Adkin and Helen Edgar
Autistic Parents UK
Helen Edgar joined Tanya Adkin for a Q&A session on the subject of Monotropism and Autistic Parenting.
Featured In
Advocacy & Campaigns
I endorse and support campaigns that advocate for Autistic rights, challenge harmful practices, and push for systemic change.
Recognise Autistic Burnout
Campaigning for schools, CAMHS, and professionals to officially recognise and accept autistic burnout.
Unauthorised Absence Documentary
Supporting this vital documentary exploring the impact of school absence policies on neurodivergent children.
Open Letter: Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice
Advocating for neurodiversity-affirming approaches in speech and language therapy.
Open Letter to RCSLT
Calling for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists to adopt neurodiversity-affirming practices.
View my Portfolio Below
(click to enlarge)
Beyond Work
Outside of Autistic Realms, I’m currently exploring concepts that consider the potential of “More-Than” neurodiversity on my More Realms website.
I’m an avid reader, but when I’m not tucked away in my forest-themed den (my latibulum), I like exploring the nearby woodlands behind my home with my children and dog, Benji, and taking lots of photos of mushrooms. I have a deep love of water: sea, rivers and streams. I’ve spent years collecting crystals and faery things, and love nice scented candles and pretty lights.
I live with my husband, children, four cats, and one very large, very fluffy Golden Doodle dog. 🐕
🍄 Mushroom Photography
📚 Reading
🌊 Water & Rivers
🔮 Crystals
🧚 Faery Things
🌲 Woodlands
Made with love by my daughter
I am so proud of my daughter, who is studying for her Make-Up Artist Diploma and also working on her Professional Nail Artist Diploma.
Alongside her studies she has set up her own small nail business,
where every set is designed and painted by hand.
She welcomes custom orders if you would like something made just for you.
You can find her on Instagram and Etsy, and if you could follow and share her work, it would mean a great deal to us both.
Come and Visit My Faery Yurt
The Faery Yurt is my corner of Stimpunks.World: a candlelit tent pitched at the edge of the campgrounds, past the treeline, where the light is soft and nothing moves unless you ask it to. Inside there’s a glimmer window that opens onto somewhere else, a gallery of Pre-Raphaelite dreamers, a regulation nook for when the world is too much, and a bowl by the door for leaving pebbles. Three oak doors open onto deep space and lead further in: a gothic Reading Room with every book I keep, a Music Room where my playlists spin on a gramophone, and a little picture palace where the films I love hang on old reels, from Deleuze and Merleau-Ponty to whale song, starlight and Gilmore Girls. Join the faeries, grow a garden, or simply sit by the candles. It’s a place to rest, wander and wonder, and to stay as long as you like.
Just like in the yurt, nothing moves until you press it, and pressing again clears it.
Doorways into the yurt
My den at home has a sister space online. On Stimpunks.World, the street Ryan Boren and I dreamt up with the wider Stimpunks community, I keep a candlelit yurt pitched at the edge of the woods in the campgrounds, where it is a bit quieter.
Inside you will find my Library, a Music room where you can listen to Faery Yurt’s Yarn, a regulation nook, a glimmer window full of things that bring me joy, a nature field notebook full of mushroom and forest photographs, and you can also meet my four cats, Benji the dog and Gibbles the hamster. The door is always open, so come in and stay as long as you need to, pop a log on the fire, make some coffee and get cosy. See you on the flip side! Helen x
Ready to Go Further?
If you’d like to deepen your understanding of Autistic experience or bring neurodiversity-affirming practice into your home, workplace, or organisation:
Work With Me
Training, consultancy, and collaborative projects tailored to your needs.
Explore Resources
Articles, guides, infographics, and e-books covering monotropism, burnout, and more.
Get In Touch
Questions, collaborations, or just want to say hello?
Read some testimonials and feedback | Leave a Google Review
Contact: helen@autisticrealms.com | www.autisticrealms.com
All images are created on Canva unless otherwise stated. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. This license requires that reusers give credit to Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms) as creator. It allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form and for noncommercial purposes only.
© BY: Credit must be given to Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)
© NC: Only noncommercial use of Helen Edgar’s (Autistic Realms) work is permitted.
Want to work with me?
If something here resonates and you would like to work together, I would love to hear from you. I welcome conversations about training, consultancy, writing, speaking and community projects.