In this episode of The Portal Podcast, Professor Sarah Lonbay and Dr Lesley Deacon speak with Jenni Guthrie about her work exploring the experiences of autistic and neurodivergent social workers and students. Jenni shares insight into the lack of research in this area, the challenges autistic professionals face in social work, and the strengths they bring to the profession.

She discusses her completed collaborative autoethnography project co-created with neurodivergent students and newly qualified social workers, which examined the value of safe, neuro-affirming community spaces. Key findings highlighted the importance of organisational support, neurodivergent facilitators, and recognition of the impact of ableism, racism, and the conflation of both.

The conversation also explores the stigma connecting autism with “risk,” the barriers of diagnosis as privilege, and the compounded challenges of autistic burnout versus social work burnout. Jenni calls for regulators and organisations to actively welcome neurodivergent practitioners and invest in research, training, and safe spaces.

For more information about the episode, including a glossary of key terms and concepts, links to resoures mentioned in the conversation, and a transcript of the episode, please click here: https://wp.sunderland.ac.uk/portal-podcast/

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In this episode of The Portal Podcast, Professor Sarah Lonbay and Dr Lesley Deacon speak with Professor Hanna Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, a Swedish sociologist and social work professor, activist, and member of the autistic community. Hanna shares her journey from queer studies and community activism into autism research, including her own “community assessment” and self-identification as autistic.

The discussion explores how lived experience challenges dominant, deficit-based narratives of autism, advocating for a reframing grounded in embodiment, sensory experience, and the development of new, more nuanced language. Key concepts such as the “double empathy problem” and “triple empathy problem” are explained through relatable metaphors. Hanna emphasises the intertwined nature of her activism and research, the importance of recognising neurodivergent professionals in social work, and the value of “translators” between neurotypical and neurodivergent communication styles.

The conversation also touches on neurodivergent sexuality, the need to move beyond neurotypical and heteronormative frameworks, and how insights from communities such as BDSM can broaden understanding of sensory pleasures and pacing in intimate relationships. Practical recommendations for social workers include recognising neurodivergent people as a language minority, allowing for processing time, and creating accessible spaces that work for the individual.

For more information about the episode, including a glossary of key terms and concepts, links to resoures mentioned in the conversation, and a transcript of the episode, please click here: https://wp.sunderland.ac.uk/portal-podcast/

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In this episode of The Portal Podcast, hosts Professor Sarah Lonbay and Dr Lesley Deacon speak with Dr Laura Lennuyeux-Comnene and Professor Rebecca Charlton from Goldsmiths, University of London, about the COAST Project – Co-designing Autism Social Work Training. The project focuses on collaborating with older autistic adults, social workers, and social care providers to create training that supports social workers in working more effectively with autistic people aged 50+.

The discussion covers the researchers’ journeys into this field, the importance of co-production in training design, and the challenges faced by older autistic adults, including late diagnosis, systemic barriers in social care, and the intersection of autism with ageing. The guests reflect on the difficulties in reaching diverse participants, the need for social workers to reframe existing skills with confidence, and the importance of recognising each autistic person’s unique lived experience. The conversation also touches on intersectionality, intergenerational dynamics, and structural changes that could improve service access.

Listeners will gain insights into the realities of ageing and autism, the gaps in current social work practice, and practical steps for creating inclusive, needs-led support.

For more information about the episode, including a glossary of key terms and concepts, links to resources mentioned in the conversation, and a transcript of the episode, please click here: https://wp.sunderland.ac.uk/portal-podcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.