Viv Dawes
Nominee Profile
Location: Hampshire
Viv Dawes is a late identified Autistic/PDA and ADHD advocate, consultant, trainer and author. She has 30 years’ experience of working with some of the most vulnerable people in society, including as an NHS Snr Practitioner managing teams of forensic drugs workers in prisons. Most of the people she has worked with over those 30 years have been neurodivergent.
Viv currently provides lived experience training and support to parents, other professionals and neurodivergent individuals, especially around understanding autistic burnout and recovery. The parents support group she runs is a lifeline for many who are caring for autistic children experiencing burnout.
Viv’s book ‘Supporting autistic children and young people through burnout’ has helped many parents (and professionals) to better understand autistic burnout and support them on what can be a very really long, challenging journey. She has also written a book about burnout for autistic young people, ‘The young person’s guide to autistic burnout’ released in July with JKP, that her son (also neurodivergent) illustrated. Viv is now writing a book on neurodivergent burnout for adults.
In 2023 Viv started the Autistic Burnout Network, an international group of neurodivergent professionals, that has grown to over 200 people, all with a passion for helping others understand autistic burnout, recovery and prevention. This year we are running our first online conference that will also raise money for charity.
Speaking at the London Autism show last year and again this year, Viv has also been invited on a number of occasions to speak to NHS staff about autistic burnout and mental health. As well as this Viv is also the consultant on a pilot scheme in Surrey to provide training to prison officers.
Viv currently provides lived experience training and support to parents, other professionals and neurodivergent individuals, especially around understanding autistic burnout and recovery. The parents support group she runs is a lifeline for many who are caring for autistic children experiencing burnout.
Viv’s book ‘Supporting autistic children and young people through burnout’ has helped many parents (and professionals) to better understand autistic burnout and support them on what can be a very really long, challenging journey. She has also written a book about burnout for autistic young people, ‘The young person’s guide to autistic burnout’ released in July with JKP, that her son (also neurodivergent) illustrated. Viv is now writing a book on neurodivergent burnout for adults.
In 2023 Viv started the Autistic Burnout Network, an international group of neurodivergent professionals, that has grown to over 200 people, all with a passion for helping others understand autistic burnout, recovery and prevention. This year we are running our first online conference that will also raise money for charity.
Speaking at the London Autism show last year and again this year, Viv has also been invited on a number of occasions to speak to NHS staff about autistic burnout and mental health. As well as this Viv is also the consultant on a pilot scheme in Surrey to provide training to prison officers.