Joe Fautley
Member of the GEC Circle of Influence
Bio:
Joe Fautley is an Autistic and neurodivergent advocate with over 10 years of experience in a variety of personal lived experience advocacy and professional training work for Autism, neurodiversity and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Joe is passionate about using his voice and lived experiences to be a positive role model and help inspire and support others. For example, he uses his platform on LinkedIn with over 3,000 connections and followers to share his personal experiences and help spread awareness, acceptance and understanding of Autism and neurodiversity across the wider SEND and education community.
Joe is a relentless and determined advocate for positive change and engages regularly with professional networks across the SEND community. Joe has delivered many presentations to various audiences.
Outside of his full time day job at the National Children’s Bureau (NCB), in his personal capacity, Joe regularly contributes to various media, providing practical advice for professionals who support Autistic children and young people and adults using insights from his own personal lived experience.
Joe is the co-chair (a voluntary role) of the Staff Disability and Neurodiversity Network, launched in January 2023, for colleagues at NCB, ensuring they are supported and their feedback can influence positive changes in the workplace.
In 2025, Joe was a guest on an episode of the podcast “SEND in the Experts”, hosted by Georgina Durrant from Twinkl Educational Publishing, in which he provided advice and strategies to help support teachers and educators.
Joe featured on an episode of the SENDcast in 2024, the #1 podcast for SEND hosted by Dale Pickles, in which he talks openly about his personal experiences of Autism and provides advice for professionals supporting Autistic children and young people.
Joe has written articles in several publications in the SEND and children's sector including NASEN Connect, SEN Magazine, Autism Eye, SecEd, Headteacher Update and Children and Young People Now Magazine, and featured in a blog for SENsational Tutors.
Joe is a speaker at the NASEN Live Conference in Birmingham in July 2025. At this conference, Joe will deliver a seminar titled “A Lived Experience: Practical Advice for Educators Supporting Autistic Children and Young People”.
Areas of specialism:
Autism, Dyspraxia, Neurodiversity, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), accessible communication, supporting children and young people with SEND in education
Social channels:
Useful links:
Article in Children and Young People Now Magazine (2025) https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/features/six-things-you-should-know-about-autism
Episode on the SENDcast (2024) https://thesendcast.com/autism-my-personal-experiences-and-advice-for-professionals/
Article in SecEd (2024) https://www.sec-ed.co.uk/content/best-practice/standing-in-the-shoes-of-your-autistic-students/
GEC Circle Contributions: Strengthening the GEC Framework:
We are proud to include Joe's fantastic work in our GEC Library to support staff and students with neurodiversity training.
