My name is Carole Adair. I have had involvement with Autism NI (PAPA), since its inception, and am privileged to serve as a Board member at what is a very exciting, albeit challenging time in the organisation’s development.
I currently work as a Senior Educational Psychologist in the Southern Education and Library Board, where I manage a Behaviour Support Team. I have had an abiding interest in Autism since qualifying as an Educational Psychologist in 1990, and have carried out two major pieces of research, whose emphases have been on parental experiences of having a child or young person with an autistic spectrum disorder. I was a member of the Task Group on Autism, whose recommendations were instrumental in obtaining additional funds for Autism in the field of education. I am involved in further research at the present time, and aim to continue to work with parents in evaluating their experiences of educational provision in N. Ireland.
During my work as a psychologist across three education and library boards, my focus has been to work with parents, in an effort to support and advise them in their attempts to access various support services in the early years, and to reach very significant decisions in relation to the educational pathways appropriate for their children and young people.
I have four children of my own. I know the effort I have put into bringing them up, and the energy I continue to expend, even now that they are adults, in my attempts to care for them, and to support, guide and advise them. I will continue to make use of my personal experience of being a parent to inform my work.
Autism NI (PAPA), due to the commitment and dedication of its staff, has developed over the years into a well-respected voluntary organisation, which has succeeded in raising the profile of Autism within N. Ireland. I look forward to working with Autism N. I., and alongside parents, to continue to improve outcomes for families who live and work with children and young people with an autistic spectrum disorder.
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