Consultancy

About

Dr Sarah Jane Nuttall is an autistic creative writer, researcher, consultant, speaker, and educator who delivers presentations, workshops, and creative consultancy across educational, cultural, corporate, and community settings. Her autism workshops are designed to engage participants and foster understanding around neurodivergent experiences.

Drawing on lived experience, academic research, and creative-critical practice, Sarah's work explores autism, neurodivergence, identity, representation, and narrative. Her presentations are consistently well attended and have helped many people recognize their own autistic traits, often leading to self-identification or the pursuit of a formal diagnosis.

With a background in teaching, creative writing for autism, and autism research, Sarah is particularly interested in the experiences of late-diagnosed autistic women and other marginalized neurodivergent groups. Her doctoral research explored autistic experience through creative-critical methodology, and she has also conducted research into the experiences of autistic student teachers, examining the barriers, strengths, adaptations, and support needs encountered within teacher education and professional practice.

Her approach combines scholarship, storytelling, and practical insight to make complex ideas accessible, engaging, and meaningful.

What Her Presentations Cover

Sarah's talks are suitable for all genders and are especially valuable for:

- Autistic women, girls, and marginalized genders

- Parents, partners, and families of autistic people

- Educators and education professionals

- Student teachers and trainee professionals

- Employers, workplace leaders, and support services

- Anyone wanting to better understand neurodivergence and autistic experience

Her presentations explore themes such as:

- Autism in women and girls

- Late, missed, and misdiagnosis

- Intersectional neurodivergence

- Autistic identity and self-understanding

- The social and cultural factors that shape autistic experience

- Narrative, storytelling, and lived experience

- The experiences of autistic student teachers and professionals

- Barriers, strengths, and support within education and employment

- Supporting autistic students, trainees, colleagues, and communities

- Representation of autism in literature, theatre, and popular culture

Creative Consultancy

As a writer, researcher, and consultant, Sarah provides neurodivergent consultancy by working with writers, directors, theatre companies, educators, and creative practitioners who want to represent autistic people with authenticity, nuance, and respect.

Her consultancy draws on both professional expertise and lived experience, offering insight into neurodivergent identity, sensory experience, communication, masking, diagnosis, representation, and inclusion. She supports projects at all stages of development, helping organizations create work that is informed, inclusive, and narratively credible.

Recent consultancy work includes advising Birmingham Rep's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, providing specialist insight into autistic presentation, particularly in women and girls, and supporting more informed discussions around autism and representation within the production process.

Sarah is particularly passionate about helping creatives, educators, and organizations move beyond stereotypes to develop richer, more complex understandings of autistic and neurodivergent lives.

Some of her projects appear below.

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time

Additional Information

I was invited to act as an autism consultant for Birmingham Rep’s new production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The production reimagines the central character as a teenage girl and seeks to reflect contemporary understandings of neurodiversity.

Drawing on my research into autism in women and girls, alongside my lived experience as a late-diagnosed autistic woman, I advised on autistic presentation, character authenticity and representation. My role involved supporting the creative team in developing a nuanced portrayal that reflected the diversity of autistic experience and challenged assumptions based on traditionally male-centred narratives.

The production programme also featured an interview with me, written by Diane Garner, discussing autism in women and girls, contemporary understandings of neurodiversity, and the importance of authentic representation in theatre.

This consultancy reflects my wider work at the intersection of autism research, lived experience and public engagement, supporting organisations and creative practitioners to develop more informed and inclusive approaches to neurodiversity.

'The production team has also worked with Dr Sarah Jane Nuttall, a postdoctoral researcher specialising in autism in women, in its efforts to approach the character with authenticity and care.'

West End Best Friend

'The involvement of experts like Dr Sarah Jane Nuttall and the value of Keenan’s own lived experience is also palpable, creating a genuine sense of authenticity that previous productions may have lacked.'

Voice Mag

Collab with Jess telling and chameleon

Representation Matters

I recently collaborated with the talented Jessica Telling, writer and director of Chameleon, an autistic-led theatre production that draws from her lived experience of masking, relationships, and navigating the world as an autistic woman. After the production's successful run at The Glitch Theatre in London, I designed and analyzed audience feedback research focused on accessibility for neurodivergent theatre-goers, as well as their responses to the representation of autistic women and other neurodivergent individuals. This collaboration also included insights from our autism workshops, which emphasized the importance of creative writing for autism as a form of expression. The project culminated in the publication of a peer-reviewed journal article, Misinformation, Misattunement, and Autistic Theatre: Representation, Access, and Cultural Harm, co-authored with Jessica and published in Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture. This research further enhances our neurodivergent consultancy efforts aimed at improving accessibility in the arts.

Nuttall, S.J. and Telling, J. (2026) ‘Misinformation, misattunement, and autistic theatre: Representation, access, and cultural harm’. Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture, 7(2), pp. 68–80. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ought/vol7/iss2/8/

Theater poster for Chameleon, written and directed by Jessica Telling.

kyra women's project 2025-2026

Exciting project

At Kyra Women's Project, I developed and facilitated a series of creative writing courses for late-diagnosed neurodivergent women and non-binary people, focusing on autism workshops. Through one eight-week in-person program and two subsequent online courses in creative writing for autism, participants used storytelling, memoir, and creative reflection to process their experiences. This culminated in the production of a collective anthology celebrating diverse neurodivergent voices.

Testimonials

'I learned more in an hour and a half than in the past 64 years about how to write creatively. Sarah explained things in an engaging way and gently encouraged participation. It lead to me discovering a creative side and the ability to express myself through writing, something that I never knew or believed I had or was possible.'

'The course had a positive impact on my life and provided a way to express feelings that I couldn't articulate. It helped me focus on positive grounding aspects by finding ways to write about them.'

'It’s made me feel more positive about my brain and being part of the group more accepting of my neurodiversity.'

'Recognising things in myself that I shy away from, and confronting them.'

'A significant step towards self-acceptance and exploring my neurodivergent consultancy.'

Is there anything you would change or improve for next time?

'I’d just like the group to carry on : )'

'More time? So there's more room for in-depth discussions after the writing.'

MMU guest lectureS: speech and language therpay

Neurodiversity- affirming

I am a regular guest lecturer on the Speech and Language Therapy programmes at Manchester Metropolitan University, delivering annual sessions tailored separately for undergraduate and postgraduate students. In my autism workshops, I draw on my lived experience as an autistic woman and my academic research to explore topics including autistic communication, diagnosis, masking, identity, and the diverse ways autism presents across genders and life stages. My aim is to help future practitioners develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding of autistic experience and neurodivergence by promoting neurodiversity-affirming practices.

MSc Speech & Language text on dark green background.

online zoom presentation, 10 APRIL 2024

Wonderful uptake

Thank you so much to Manchester Metropolitan University for hosting me. I had a warm welcome and look forward to working with MMU again on future autism workshops. The event sold out, which is a testament to the need for this kind of outreach work, including creative writing for autism initiatives. The online chat was supremely helpful and supportive, with people sharing valuable advice and resources related to neurodivergent consultancy. This is what it is all about!

Sold out event with a speaker on Wednesday 10 April at 12:00.

online zoom presentation, 20 february 2024

Home comforts

This was a presentation delivered from the comfort of my own sofa, dressed in pyjamas and wrapped in a blanket. The lovely people who logged in further enhanced my comfort, especially those interested in our autism workshops. A special shout out and thank you to Dr. Zoe Crompton for ensuring the IT ran smoothly and fielding questions. Your support made discussing creative writing for autism and neurodivergent consultancy so much easier. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Online presentation on autism in women and girls for Neurodiversity Celebration Week.

presentation at house of books and friends, 7 february 2024

Fantastic venue, lovely audience

This time I delivered my presentation in a beautiful bookshop on King Street in Manchester, which is not only a lovely setting with dark wood and dimmed lights but also a fantastic venue for autism workshops. I was even more excited because I was sitting in the chair that Miriam Margoyles had used for a recent book signing!

As ever, the audience was supportive, and we shared our stories and advice after the presentation, especially around topics like creative writing for autism. Books from my recommended reading list were available to purchase, making it easy for everyone to dive deeper into their interests. I would highly recommend the bookshop and staff, particularly as an autism-friendly environment for all. Don’t forget to check them out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofbooksandfriends?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Woman presenting story about being autistic to an audience.

Talk at leeds beckett university, 12 december 2023

A Fantastic Evening

I shared my story as a late-diagnosed autistic woman during one of the autism workshops, along with a lecture on how autism presents differently in women and girls. The audience was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable themselves. Spreading the word, sharing experiences, and offering advice is what it's all about, empowering one another to discover our authentic selves. I also emphasized the importance of initiatives like creative writing for autism and neurodivergent consultancy in fostering understanding and connection.

Woman giving presentation about her autistic experience.

LUNCHTIME PRESENTATION at ROLLS-ROYCE SMR SEPTEMBER 2023

An Amazing Uptake

During a presentation aimed at engineers, I received a warm response from both those who attended in person and those who participated via phone in a voluntary lunchtime meeting. Following the session, I was available for one-on-one discussions, which allowed for deeper engagement. The female engineers found plenty to contemplate, and partners and parents also valued the opportunity to listen and share insights, especially regarding topics from our autism workshops, as well as the benefits of creative writing for autism and neurodivergent consultancy.

Empty conference room with presentation on autism in women and girls.

Finding ourselves and one another: an autism community

Presentations, Workshops and Consultancy

Talks, Workshops and Collaboration