Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Research indicates that reading helps us all practice empathy that we can transfer to real life situations. An exploration and discussion on
• the relationship between autism and empathy and the additional support we can provide to ensure autistic children and young people have this experience
• the importance of books authentically written from the perspective of autistic children and young people, to ensure autistic readers see themselves and their experience reflected in books
• reflections from award-winning author/illustrator Aoife Dooley on her own neurodivergent experience of books and reading and what inspires her writing
Expert guest speakers include:
• Sarah Mears – Empathy Lab co-founder & Programmes Director, Libraries Connected
• Dr Helen Demetriou – Chartered Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology and Education at the University of Cambridge. Her latest publication is Empathy can be taught at school – and it can lead to more creative thinking
• Dr Ashlea Cromby – Neuroinclusion Advisor for auticon UK, a social enterpriseon a mission to improve the employment prospects of neurodivergent people
• Aoife Dooley – award-winning illustrator, writer and comedian and creator of graphic novels including Finding My Voice and Frankie’s World (Scholastic)
Research indicates that reading helps us all practice empathy that we can transfer to real life situations. An exploration and discussion on
• the relationship between autism and empathy and the additional support we can provide to ensure autistic children and young people have this experience
• the importance of books authentically written from the perspective of autistic children and young people, to ensure autistic readers see themselves and their experience reflected in books
• reflections from award-winning author/illustrator Aoife Dooley on her own neurodivergent experience of books and reading and what inspires her writing
Expert guest speakers include:
• Sarah Mears – Empathy Lab co-founder & Programmes Director, Libraries Connected
• Dr Helen Demetriou – Chartered Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology and Education at the University of Cambridge. Her latest publication is Empathy can be taught at school – and it can lead to more creative thinking
• Dr Ashlea Cromby – Neuroinclusion Advisor for auticon UK, a social enterpriseon a mission to improve the employment prospects of neurodivergent people
• Aoife Dooley – award-winning illustrator, writer and comedian and creator of graphic novels including Finding My Voice and Frankie’s World (Scholastic)
