Positive Psychology Academy Student Experiences: Autism (Pippa Whitehall)

Pippa Whitehall is a Certified Strengths-Based Practitioner (Autism & Neurodiversity) who graduated from the Level 5 Diploma Autism in Research, Theory & Practice for Managers & Practitioners course in 2026. Below is a summary of her experience and how she is applying her learning in a professional role.

What motivated you to apply for this course?          

At the time of applying, I was not currently working after having left my job as Manager of a nursery due to my youngest autistic son starting school and not knowing how much support he would need.

I had also set up a support group for those in my local area who had SEND children in their family. I did this due to my then 14-year-old autistic son who was unable to attend school due to them not supporting him effectively (or at all). I found this incredibly difficult and thought it couldn’t just be me who was struggling! Our local area is rural, classed as deprived, and is poorly funded – there was nothing already set up, so I got to it!

I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could to best support my own children, but also those we were supporting too.

What did you learn about Autism during your studies?

Building on my previous training in neurodiversity and inclusion, this course deepened my understanding of autism in a more nuanced and practical way. It strengthened my awareness of how communication differences show up in real-world contexts, particularly in the workplace, and the importance of adapting to individual preferences. The focus on sensory processing added another layer, highlighting how environments can significantly impact wellbeing and performance. I also gained a richer understanding of the relationship between autism, stress, and anxiety, and the value of collaborative, person-centred approaches to support. Overall, it reinforced the importance of flexibility, curiosity, and truly listening to individual experiences. I use so much of it in the training I deliver in schools and workplaces.

What do you wish people understood about Autism?

What I really wish is that people wouldn’t automatically think it’s a negative thing – getting rid of the ‘deficits’ belief and building more on the strengths is a real mission! I would also like there to be more understanding about the spectrum element of Autism. I hear people say ‘oh but he works, he can’t be autistic’ or, at the other end ‘of she doesn’t understand anything, she’s non-verbal’. Non-verbal does not mean non-thinking!

Far too often when I tell people 2 of my sons are autistic I hear ‘aw that’s a shame’ and I cannot tell you how much that frustrates me. My children have brilliant minds that they wouldn’t have were they not autistic!!!

What was the most meaningful part of your course experience?

For me the most meaningful part was being able to be in such an inclusive environment. The tutor assistant and course coordinator have been so supportive of my own needs (I was diagnosed during my Level 3 course), and the tutor, Dr Reece Coker, is an absolute inspiration to me. His description of his own life experiences has had a huge impact on how I think and feel about my son’s future – I now am positive that things will become easier for him. With his Mama beside him, he really can do anything!

Do you have any practical advice for new students on this course?

If you have struggled with learning in the past, please don’t let those experiences affect your decision whether to undertake this course. The Positive Psychology Guild works with you, not against you. They meet you where you are and support you in whichever way you need to enable you to be successful. If you’re thinking about it – think now more, take the plunge!

How do you hope to apply (or are you applying) your course learning?

When I finished my Level 3 Certificate Neurodiversity & Inclusion (Train the Trainer) I set up my own business, NeuroKin. My passion has always been to improve the lives of Neurodivergent children by giving schools a deeper knowledge around Neurodiversity and how to effectively support pupils. 

I was fortunate enough to be asked to deliver training for the PINS (Partnership for Inclusion in Neurodiversity in Schools) project, and over 2 years have trained in many schools across multiple counties.

About Pippa Whitehall

In February 2025 I joined Neurodiversity UK (https://neurodiversityuk.co.uk/) and worked as a Virtual Assistant alongside my self-employed work. My work here quickly expanded to training workplaces, liaising with corporate clients and has expanded to me becoming Operations Director and Co-Founder alongside Jack Norwood who originally founded this amazing organisation.

We have trained so many wonderful companies such as Macmillan, Wyre Council, and Port of Felixstowe to name a few. It is so encouraging to see how large organisations are really wanting to make their workplace environments more inclusive, and really gives me hope that the inclusive society we so desperately need is within reach.