Dr Idalmis Santiesteban is a founder of the Liverpool Autism Hub, a public engagement initiative aimed at the local autism community. She tells us about their latest event.
On June 6th, we hosted our latest Liverpool Autism Hub event - this time entirely online - and what a rich and powerful morning it was. As one of the organisers, I’m always hopeful that our events will strike the right balance between research, services, and lived experience. With over 60 people joining us virtually, we explored how autistic people experience mental imagery, the health inequalities that persist in NHS settings, and what it means to navigate the world as a neurodivergent adult.
The feedback was incredibly positive—attendees described the event as well-paced, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant. Many appreciated the opportunity to hear both academic research and personal experiences in one place, and several noted how valuable it was to attend a session that felt safe, open, and accessible.
Exploring the Mind’s Eye: Mental Imagery in Autism
We began the morning with a research talk by Dr Reshanne Reeder, a researcher at the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool. Her presentation, titled “Thinking in Pictures or a Blind Mind’s Eye?”, introduced the concept of imagery extremes—from Hyperphantasia (extremely vivid mental imagery) to Aphantasia (little or no mental imagery).
Dr Reeder’s data revealed that around 20% of autistic people may experience aphantasia, a finding that opens up new ways of thinking about imagination, learning, and memory in autism. Participants were fascinated by the idea that neurodivergent people may process thoughts, images, and even memories in completely different ways. The session sparked plenty of reflection and conversation, with many attendees drawing connections between these experiences and their own inner lives.
Bridging the Gap: Health Facilitation from Mersey Care
Next, we welcomed Joanna Nowak, an Autism Health Facilitator at Mersey Care, who shared the inspiring work of her small, dedicated team supporting autistic adults to access healthcare. Joanna’s talk was full of practical insight—and deeply moving stories.
She outlined the stark health inequalities faced by autistic people, including reduced life expectancy and a lack of access to basic physical health checks. But she also offered hope. Through her team’s work, autistic adults are receiving the support they need to attend appointments, manage long-term conditions, and be treated with dignity and understanding. Joanna’s presentation didn’t just describe a service—it painted a vision of how things should work.
Attendees praised the session as “brilliant,” “life-changing,” and “so needed.” For many, it was eye-opening to hear how relatively small changes—such as clearer communication, flexible appointments, and practical advocacy—can make such a huge difference.
“Why I Need Five Planners”: A Lived Experience of AuDHD
We ended the event with a heartfelt and often humorous talk by Adele Curley, Chair of the Neurodivergent Staff Support Group at the University of Liverpool, community advocate, and founder of Wirral ADHD Adults Group. Adele spoke candidly about life as a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD adult—and about parenting two neurodivergent children in a neurodivergent household.
Her talk, “Why I Need Five Planners”, captured both the chaos and creativity of living with executive dysfunction, burnout, and overlapping neurodivergent identities. Adele’s honesty struck a chord. One attendee described it as “exactly what I needed to hear.” Another shared how powerful it was to hear from someone “who’s lived through the struggle and is working to make things better for others.”
Reflections and Thanks
Across all three talks, a clear theme emerged: autistic lives are diverse and complex—and our systems need to reflect that. Whether through innovative services, better-informed research, or lived-experience leadership, change is both possible and necessary.
We’re incredibly grateful to our speakers—Dr Reeder, Joanna Nowak, and Adele Curley—for their time, expertise, and generosity. Thank you also to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. Your questions, comments, and feedback help shape the Hub’s future work.
The Liverpool Autism Hub will continue to bring together autistic people, researchers, families, clinicians, and allies to co-produce research, shape policy, and build community. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
Stay connected with us for updates on future events and initiatives: