Alice Mcsweeney
Co guide-Education, children and young people
Alice is a 32-year-old late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD. They are parent to two neurodivergent children, one of whom they home educate.
Alice was late diagnosed as autistic in their mid-twenties, only after one of their children got their diagnosis and everything suddenly all made sense to them. “I finally knew why they always felt so different and why so many people around me seemed to have their life on easy mode, while mine always seemed to be on hard mode”.
After they connected with the neurodivergent community they developed a Neuro-affirming lense and discovered they were also ADHD and PDA. They were diagnosed ADHD at 31.
Alice has worked with and supported neurodivergent children, adults, parents and relatives in a variety of other roles and settings for the past 15 years.
“I finally knew why they always felt so different and why so many people around me seemed to have their life on easy mode, while mine always seemed to be on hard mode”.
My Story
They have experience as an Autism lead for their local parent partnership and we’re Co-chair of their local authorities Autism board for 3 years. They have provided 1-1 support for children in nurseries, worked as a emotional support helpline worker for an autism charity, been a children's centre volunteer, an outreach worker for a adult autism service and carried out training course facilitating.
In 2022 they became a qualified Coach and started Neurodiverse Journeys, where they coached and advocated for people of all Neurotypes. In 2024 they also began doing online talks and public speaking.
Alongside Alice’s work they have authored two picture books around positive autistic identity.
In 2024 Alice was nominated for a National Diversity Award for Positive role model (Disability) for their work over the years.
Alice has recently started as a mentor for GROVE neurodivergent education and mentoring.
I am the sunshine is the second in a series of colourful rhyming story books about positive autistic identity. In this story you can explore some lovely qualities of this autistic character with your child. Can your child spot some similarities?
Every autistic child is unique, there is two pages in the back of the book for your child to personalise and encourage them to think about their own individual amazing qualities and what support they may need or already have in place that helps them.
‘I am the sunshine and the sunshine is me’ has been written with neuro-affirming language, from a perspective of looking at differences as being something to nurture, embrace and celebrate.
Positive autistic identity leads to better self-esteem for our children, so let’s support children of all neurotypes in embracing the beauty that comes from neurodiversity
”I am the rainbow and the rainbow is me” is a colourful rhyming story book that gives children an insight into one little girls positive autistic identity.
In this story you can explore some lovely qualities of this autistic character with your child. Can your child spot some similarities?
Every autistic child is unique. There is two pages to personalise in the back that are all about your child and their own individual qualities.
“Come along and meet gabby, a creative board game playing and scary-loving kiddo who adores a jam sandwich.
"Squeak Squeak”
Oh, and that's Meeple, Gabby's bestest rat friend. Meeple is inviting you too.
Both Gabby and Meeple are excited to share more about them, where they go, what they do, and what gives them a glimmer.
Find Gabby's glimmers of joy and comfort that shine out from them in colours of golds, purples and blues.
And most importantly, come and see how Gabby's jam sandwich is so much more than just their Favourite Food.”
“The Education, children and young peoples department is something I am really passionate about, as I know first hand what it’s like as a parent and an autistic individual not being aware of neuro-affirming information and different options. Having safe neuro-affirming spaces like these really changed my Neurodivergent families life.”
Qualifications
Level 4 Coaching Accreditation
Level 4 Early years & Childhood Studies
Coaching Foundation Certification
NLP Certification
Holistic Coaching Certification
Working with and Coaching Neurodivergent clients Certification
Level 2 & 3 Working with children and Young peoples workforce
Additional training in topics like Safeguarding, Data Protection, Supporting Autistic children, First aid etc.