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Fringe event: Theme: Achieving Access, Agency and Wellbeing in Employment
What is a Fringe event?
Fringe events are often more interactive, community-driven, and accessible, providing a platform for diverse voices and ideas.
In this case,the fringe event at the 14th Autism Europe International Congress 2025 allows for a deeper exploration of Autistic professional voices and needs, creating a space for meaningful dialogue and advocacy.
Event Title: Achieving Access, Agency and Wellbeing in Employment
Event Purpose: The purpose of this event is to amplify professional voices within the Autistic community, by addressing stigma, improving quality of life, and supporting advocacy for Autistic adults
Location: Sandymount Hotel, Herbert Road, Dublin
Date: Friday 12th September 2025
Time: 1:30 – 2:30pm
The panel chair is Dr. Magda Mostafa. Magda Mostafa is Founding Partner and Principal of StudioTM, a design consultancy based in Dubai specialising in Autism and Neuro-Inclusive Design, as well as Professor of Design at the American University in Cairo. She is the author of the ASPECTSS®️ Design Index, the world’s first research-based design framework for autism. ASPECTSS®️ was awarded the UIA Triennial Research Award in 2014 and Mostafa is the only laureate to be presented this award twice, awarded again in 2023 for her Autism Friendly University Design Guide which was developed with AsIAm. She also chairs AsIAm's Autism Friendly University Accreditation Panel.
Information about her work can be found at her website www.autism.archi and www.studio-tm.online
Sue Fletcher-Watson holds a Personal Chair in Developmental Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Sue is currently Director of the Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre and Dean of Equity Inclusion and Community in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.
Dr Mary Doherty is an Irish Consultant Anaesthetist and Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, University College Dublin. She is also Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Exeter.
Maja Toudal is an Autistic and ADHD psychologist, speaker, and author from Denmark. Maja takes a neuro-affirmative approach in her work as a clinician and educator, acknowledging each person’s strengths and resources, as well as the real-life challenges that may require adaptive strategies for the individual.
Dr. Waisman is an Indigenous Pasifika, South Asian and Asian non-binary person who was late-diagnosed as Autistic at 48-years-old.TC co-founded the Autistic Researchers Committee at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) and became a founding editorial board member of the journal Autism in Adulthood with an Impact Factor of 9.5.
Kara Dymond, OCT, Ph.D, is a late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD advocate, author, educator, presenter, and award-winning teacher educator from Canada. Kara is an experienced teacher whose work supporting autistic students inspired her books The Autism Lens and Creating a Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom: Easy Ways to Achieve Access, Agency and Wellbeing for All.
