Dr Jen Kirton - Autism and neurodivergence researcher

06/08/2026

At the University of Liverpool, we've co-produced a free resource that we really hope you'll find useful.

The Autistic Communication Tool (A.C.T.) has been developed by autistic people, for autistic people to help people prepare for GP appointments. Its aim is simple: to make it easier to communicate what matters to you, identify any reasonable adjustments you need, and get the most from your appointment.

The tool has been developed through a co-design process, drawing on research evidence, the expertise of healthcare professionals and, most importantly, the lived experiences and expertise of autistic patients.

🔗 Autistic Communication Tool (A.C.T.) | Supporting Autistic People in Healthcare

We are currently piloting the tool in GP practices, and the feedback from both autistic patients and healthcare professionals has been really encouraging.

As well as supporting autistic patients, we also see the A.C.T. as a small "learning snack" for clinicians. Every completed tool gives healthcare professionals a little more insight into how autism can affect communication, sensory experiences and healthcare needs and provide additional information so that clinicians are better informed of how to support autistic patients. We hope that, one appointment at a time, it will contribute to the greater understanding of autism - that so many of us are working towards.

That said, we know it's not perfect, and we want it to be the best it can be. If you decide to use it and think something could be improved, we've missed something important, or you have ideas for making it work better, we would be incredibly grateful to hear from you. Your feedback will help shape future versions of the tool. If you choose to leave your email address on tehwebsite - you will be sent a link within 2 weeks to provide feedback on the tool.

Please feel free to use it, share it with anyone who might find it helpful, and let us know what you think.

The tool is completely free to use and is available to anyone who is autistic, whether formally diagnosed or self-identifying, and feels it would help them communicate their healthcare needs during GP appointments.

Thank you, and I really hope some of you find it helpful. 💙 Please do let us know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. [email protected]

We have also created a short video explaining the tool and how it can help:

🎥 https://vimeo.com/1215444547/3454209164?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci



Many thanks from The ACT team

(Jenny, Claire, Adele, Thomas, Marilla, Elanor, Gemma & Idalmis)

This is "ACT EXPLAINER" by Reel Things on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

22/07/2026

This is a really important project exploring cancer care experiences of autistic patients and their supporters. Please can you share with your networks and anyone you feel might be eligible to take part?

12/07/2026

Today I spent a wonderful day volunteering alongside my sister with Diverse UK in the Sensory Calm Space at RHS Badminton. Sarah Schroeder

We first came across Diverse UK a couple of years ago at Glastonbury Festival, and we were so impressed by the difference these spaces make. Today reinforced just how important they are.

Throughout the day, we met so many lovely people who were genuinely grateful to have somewhere calm to step away, regulate, and recharge. For many, it was the difference between leaving early and being able to enjoy the event.

Sensory calm spaces aren’t just a nice addition, they’re a vital part of making large public events more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

A huge thank you to everyone at Diverse UK for the incredible work you do. It was a privilege to be part of the team today, and we hope to volunteer again soon.

If you are holding an event soon, you could think about inviting diverse uk to provide this facility at your event. Please get in touch if you want further info.

02/07/2026

I am absolutely over the moon this morning!

After such a long wait for a decision, I've finally had confirmation that what i think is a very important paper has been accepted for publication in Autism Journal.

I can't wait to see it published soon. It's been a long journey, and I'm incredibly grateful and excited to have reached this milestone.

'Surviving to Thriving: A Grounded Theory of Post-Diagnostic Identity Reconstruction in Older Autistic Adults'

I am looking forward to moving this work onto the next phase... development of suitable and available post diagnostic/recognition support. Watch this space!!!!

02/05/2026

My interview for Mensa IQ magazine.

22/04/2026

We are currently looking for participants to take part in an important research project focused on improving cancer care for autistic patients in the Northwest.

This collaborative study, led by the University of Liverpool alongside The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, aims to better understand the needs and experiences of autistic individuals within cancer services. The goal is to co-develop meaningful recommendations and resources to improve care and support.

We are keen to hear from:
• Autistic individuals who have experienced cancer care in the Northwest within the last 12 months
• Relatives of autistic patients with recent experience of cancer care

Participants can get involved through:
• One-hour interviews (online or face-to-face)
• In-person workshops

All participation opportunities are compensated.

If you, or someone in your network, might be interested in contributing to this work, please take a look at the flyer below or share it within your networks. Your support in reaching the right communities would be hugely appreciated.

For more information, please contact:
Dr Jo Clough – [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
or Gemma Cherry – [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Thank you for helping us improve cancer care experiences for autistic patients.

22/04/2026

Are you aged 50+ and have ADHD?

We are inviting you to take part in a creative storytelling initiative exploring ADHD in middle and older age.

Share your experiences, identity or perspectives through:

Art
Writing
Photography
Audio
Or any other creative form
A few important notes:

This is a public engagement activity, and will not be used for research
You keep copyright
Anonymous or named – it is your choice
Selected work may feature in a digital gallery, exhibitions, or a printed collection, to help share experiences of ADHD in middle and older age with a wider audience. This will be decided based on the number and type of submissions.

Submit here:

https://livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4cgq9Y0sPLnWwm

If you have any questions or would prefer to send your submission via email, you can contact Dr Amber John ([email protected])

15/04/2026

Adele Curley this seems like quite a while ago now!

This World Autism Acceptance Month, we're sharing a brilliant interview from two people from our University of Liverpool community.

Autism researcher Dr Jennifer Kirton and disability advocate Adele Curley, share both their professional and lived experience of neurodiversity.

Their work is a great example of bringing together expertise, informed by neurodivergent voices, to create positive change and offer practical solutions.

Read the full interview ➡️
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/alumni-magazine/2025/interviews/nd-voices/

11/04/2026

We had a wonderful day filming for the Hidden Barriers documentary series, https://lnkd.in/ex9xdkww
sharing information about the Autistic Communication Tool.

It was an absolute pleasure to film alongside Adele Curley and Claire Newey. It was such a fantastic experience collaborating with passionate professionals who are committed to making healthcare more accessible for autistic patients. Thank you to Julie Bradford and Joey Lynch for putting it together and a special thanks to Rich berry for making the experience so comfortable and accessible.

I only wish the rest of the team could have been there to share the moment with us too! Looking forward to seeing the impact this series will have. 🎬✨

05/03/2026

I’m really saddened to see this aricle being published in TES. This is potentially so damaging. It is really upsetting and shows clearly that those who were once at the forefront of autism knowledge production, just fail to incorporate the new research evidence.
Uta seems to dismiss lived experience totally! I’m devastated that this has been published- tell everyone that you know- to disregard this article. https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/uta-frith-interview-autism-not-spectrum?

fbclid=IwZnRzaAQWc4FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeItCKa3br1LutprRruVWrpw71YuGgKV9AnvihfSfVyAJRoL00OzoOZRfE7-4_aem_inTRy9ZJiGV2lfT1TNHxXg

The autism spectrum has widened to the point of collapse, affecting how teachers should support autistic pupils in the classroom, researcher Uta Frith tells Helen Amass