Abstract

In this episode of The Portal Podcast, hosts Professor Sarah Lonbay and Dr Lesley Deacon speak with Dr Amy Pearson, a developmental psychologist at Durham University’s Centre for Neurodiversity and Development. Amy shares her research journey from a traditional, deficit-based view of autism to a neurodiversity-affirming perspective, informed by both her professional work and personal experience as a late-diagnosed autistic woman.

The conversation explores how autism has historically been defined, critiquing outdated concepts such as the “triad of impairments” and gendered interpretations like the “extreme male brain” theory. Amy discusses how the deficit model still dominates many services, despite pockets of progress, and emphasises the need for co-designed, up-to-date training led by neurodivergent people.

A substantial part of the episode focuses on Amy’s “Mate Crime” research, which examines the victimisation of autistic people by those they know, including friends, romantic partners, and family members. She explains how compliance-based interventions can unintentionally teach autistic people to override their own boundaries, increasing vulnerability to abuse. The discussion highlights issues such as poly-victimisation, normalisation of violence, structural barriers to accessing support, and the need for accessible relationship education.

Other topics covered include the dominance of autism within neurodiversity discourse, broad versus narrow definitions of the term “neurodivergent”, the links between autism and eating disorders, misdiagnosis of conditions such as Borderline Personality Disorder, and the societal challenges facing neurodivergent people today. The episode closes with a vision for a more inclusive society and the importance of small, incremental changes in shifting systems and attitudes.