Autism Arena CIC was founded to help children reach their potential as quickly as possible.
This was inspired by the founders recognising that they had been able to obtain the support their own children needed because of their professional backgrounds. We wanted to share those skills with others, so that more children could have the opportunity to reach their potential.
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Dr Gillian Rogers
Founder / Managing Director
Gillian is a former General Practitioner, a parent of neurodivergent children and has an acquired neurodivergence. With both lived experience and a qualification in autism, she appreciates the neurotypical and neurodivergent experiences and perspectives along with the challenges they can face.
Passionate about early intervention and strategies for people to thrive, she founded Autism Arena CIC to create positive change for neurodivergent people. Gillian volunteers as a member of the autism sub-group at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and with Medical School admissions at the University of Leeds. She founded Autism Arena CIC with long-standing friends, Edwina and Nikki, who bring their own extensive personal and professional expertise in autism and neurodiversity.
Nikki Wilson
Co-Founder/ Children’s Social Worker
Nikki is a qualified social worker with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families. Throughout her career, she has worked with families in a wide range of circumstances, always prioritising the importance of building genuine, trusting connections. This commitment allows her to truly understand people’s experiences and offer support that is both meaningful and effective.
Nikki also draws on her personal experience as a parent of two neurodivergent children, giving her a deep and practical understanding of what it takes to navigate systems from both professional and lived-experience perspectives.
She has a particular interest in the experiences of autistic girls, as well as those with PDA and ADHD. Nikki is acutely aware of the additional challenges faced by individuals who mask effectively, and the significant impact this can have on mental health. Her passion lies in ensuring that children are heard, empowering parents to advocate for their children, and supporting professionals to learn from the invaluable insights of lived experience.
Edwina Subritzky
Co-Founder/ Specialist Education Advisor / SENDCo
Edwina is an experienced teacher and qualified SENDCo with a passion for supporting and advocating for vulnerable learners. She has a wide knowledge of neurodiversity, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, and is trained in ELKLAN to support children’s speech, language, and communication needs.
Her lived experience as a parent of neurodivergent children gives her a deep understanding of the challenges families face — from early concerns and assessments to diagnosis and ensuring the right educational provision is in place. She works closely with families to help children and young people reach their full potential.
Edwina is proud to be part of Autism Arena, working alongside Gill and Nikki to support parents, carers, and professionals.
We have undertaken a great deal of additional training and recognise how much time and privilege that requires. We understand that it is not something every caregiver is able to do. Because of this, we aim to share our knowledge, skills, and experience with others. Our team includes a former General Practitioner, a children’s Social Worker, and a former Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator. We believe that when caregivers understand a child’s needs, whether through diagnosis, tailored strategies, adjustments, or professional support, they become empowered advocates in every environment their child navigates.
As we have supported more neurodivergent children and young people with their development and learning, it has become clear that many organisations need help understanding the barriers children can face. This has led us to expand our work to support schools, services, and community organisations to be more inclusive, accessible, and responsive.
As young people transition into adulthood, workplace understanding becomes essential. We have therefore naturally progressed into supporting organisations to create neuroinclusive workplaces that benefit all staff. By improving understanding and implementing inclusive practices, businesses can meet regulatory expectations, operate confidently within legal frameworks, and build environments that attract and retain a diverse workforce. Inclusion creates a more human workplace and strengthens competitive advantages by reducing costs, risks, and staff turnover.
At Autism Arena CIC, we believe that understanding differences leads to better decisions. When people feel supported, they can perform at their best and organisations thrive as a result.