NeuroDiversity Hub

Barb Cook, M.Aut.(Ed), Dip.HSc.(Nut)

Registered Developmental Educator, Integrative Nutritionist & Adult ADHD Coach

Barb Cook is a highly committed autistic advocate, writer, editor, and highly sought-after international speaker. She has made appearances on Australian radio and television, in newspapers and magazines, and in the SBS television documentary The Chameleons: Women with Autism.

Barb is a registered Developmental Educator, past Deputy Chair of the Developmental Educators Australia Incorporated (DEAI), an Integrative Nutritionist and Adult ADHD Coach.

Barb holds a Master of Autism degree from the University of Wollongong where she was also a researcher and co-project lead in the area of self-determination and self-advocacy for autistics adults.

Barb is currently engaged in a variety of research projects in the USA with her recent project investigating menopause and ageing in autistic people.

Barb has a strong interest and holistic approach in working with autistic/ADHD women in midlife and ageing and is dedicated to improving the overall well-being and quality of life for neurodivergent people. Barb identifies a neurodivergent after being diagnosed mid-life (40) and after significant burnout in 2009 with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

Barb is internationally recognised for her bestselling book on autism in women, Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism with Dr Michelle Garnett, filling the gap in literature between lived experience of autistic women and the clinical knowledge. Barb’s second best-selling book co-authored with Yenn Purkis, The Autism and Neurodiversity Self-Advocacy Handbook: Developing Skills to Determine Your Own Future, is an essential guidebook that gives you the tools and strategies to advocate for yourself in any situation, developing your skills in standing up for yourself, your needs and wishes. Barb's third book, Planning Your Career Through Intense Interests is focused on assisting young autistic adults in navigating careers pathways.

Barb is founder of the NeuroDiversity Hub, NeuroEmploy Pty Ltd, Spectrum Women Magazine and is a prolific writer on autism, ADHD and neurodivergence.

Barb is a highly sought-after international speaker and presents on a variety of topics related to women, autism, ADHD and Neurodiversity. Barb spoke at the World Autism Organisation Congress 2018 in Houston Texas, in 2019 she was invited by the United States government to keynote a special event “A Woman’s Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs” for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM) in Washington DC, USA and 2024 spoke with Dr Temple Grandin, Dr Rebecca Evanko and Taylor Heaton in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA on autistic women.

Barb was awarded the “A Different Brilliant” award at the Aspect National Recognition Awards in Sydney and the Leadership Support Award from the Neurodiversity Academy in 2021. In 2017 she received a Special Commendation from Queensland’s Governor, his Excellency, Paul De Jersey for the Autism Queensland Creative Futures Awards.

Barb is a passionate motorcyclist, and enjoys riding the love of her life, Ron Strom Burgundy, a Suzuki VStrom DL1000, who assists her with good self-care and an effective anxiety reducing and depression busting practice.

Visit www.neurodiversityhub.com/barb-cook/ and www.barbcook.com.au to learn more about Barb Cook.

Published research:

Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project. Teal W Benevides, Stephen Shore, May-Lynn Andresen, Barb Cook, Steven S. Coughlin, Dena L Gassner, Becca Lory Hector, and Lisa Morgan. Sage Journals: Autism doi.org/10.1177/1362361320908410 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361320908410

Interventions to address health outcomes among autistic adults: A systematic review. Teal W. Benevides, Stephen Shore, May-Lynn Andresen, Reid Caplan, Barb Cook, Dena L Gassner, Jasmine M Erves, Taylor M Hazlewood, M Caroline King, Lisa Morgan, Lauren E Murphy, Yenn Purkis, Brigid Rankowski, Sarah M Rutledge, Savannah P Welch, Karl Wittig. Sage Journals: Autism. doi.org/10.1177/1362361320913664 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361320913664

Brief Report: Under-Identification of Symptomatic Menopause in Publicly-Insured Autistic People. Teal W. Benevides, Barb Cook, Laura G. Klinger, Kiley J. McLean, Gregory L. Wallace, Meghan E. Carey, Wei-Lin Lee, Jonas Ventimiglia, Lauren D. Schiff, Lindsay Shea. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x

Visit www.neurodiversityhub.com/barb-cook/ and www.barbcook.com.au to learn more about Barb Cook.

Sofia Neale, BBus(RskMtg), MAHRI

Sofia is the NeuroDiversity Management Consultant with NeuroEmploy specialising in consulting neurodiversity-specific educational and training programs and tailored consulting services for neurodivergent individuals, workplace staff, management, and businesses.

As an innovative, ambitious thought leader, Sofia advocates for economic participation and social inclusion. With her own lived experience, Sofia’s vision for the World of Work is for all community members to have meaningful engagement.

Priding herself on building solid and lasting working relationships, Sofia has worked across various industries, businesses and community organisations on NeuroDiversity Employment strategies and programs, including the Department of Education and VPS, events, and NeuroDiversity Training programs.

She has a strong and accomplished background in Finance, People and Culture at an Executive level and Board Member for a Charity. Her strengths are in strategy development and building strong teams fostered through the foundations of strength, collaboration, clear communication, and diversity.

Sofia has lived experience with Autism, ADHD and Chronic Mental Health and has recently gone through her own pathway of self discovery via a recent ADHD diagnosis.  She loves supporting the neurodivergent adults and children in her family to navigate their way through their own pathways of self understanding and embracing strength with a view to finding their voice to self advocate and generate positive outcomes through those otherwise difficult discussions that don’t come naturally.

Sofia is also a Young Adults PEERS® Certified Provider and Certified Mental Health First Aid who really enjoys combining her strong business background with her understanding of neurodiversity.  Ultimately Sofia has a keen interest in just exercising kindness and respect and believes an empathy-based approach that leverages off building a strong circle of support, is the best way to improve systems, communication and reduce negative bias or misunderstanding with relation to Neurodiversity.