Now booking for January 2024!
Highly effective, inspirational speaker, offering engagements, presentations, keynotes and talks on a huge variety of autism-related topics.
Education Settings – does school have to be ‘the harshest environment‘?
I am available for school INSET sessions – improve your school staff’s understanding of what autism really is and how it is to be an autistic student trying to negotiate the difficulties of the education system. This includes:
- Adjustments for autistic students
- Adjustments for autistic teachers
- Social time considerations
- Curriculum and exam considerations
- Approaching a more accepting school culture for neurodivergencies
Workplaces and Businesses
I can visit your place of work or organisation to share lived-experience of autism in the workplace, and to discuss how to make employment more inclusive for all autistic people.
For the last three years I have delivered talks to many large, medium and small-scale clients on a range of issues related to employment, from workplace ‘reasonable adjustments’ for autistic staff to disclosure, interview style and coaching on how to communicate successfully in the workplace.
I offer a fully bespoke service – having such a wide knowledge of autism in the workplace means I can tailor your session to fit your needs.
- Autism and recruitment practices including application and interview.
- Autism and sensory experience – auditing your workspace for sensory triggers.
- Autism and communication – improving the culture of communication to include autistic styles of communication.
- Autism and monotropism – understanding the impact of this hugely important theory on task switching, focus and work types.
- Autism and ADHD – the crossover and experience of people who are both autistic and ADHD (AuDHD)
- Feedback, criticism and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria
- Pathological Demand Avoidance
Due to the importance of discussion and interactivity, I am more than happy to incorporate Q&A sessions into talks, either formal or informal, and I believe that full audience participation really helps develop awareness and acceptance. I always offer free aftercare of fielding inquiries, questions and queries for a month after the talk/training/speech.
I am fully insured (public liability insurance and professional indemnity)
Delivering a talk on autistic acceptance at the Day of SEND in Weston-super-Mare
Other speaking opportunities:
Available for radio and television interviews too – contact my agent James Spackman at the BKS Agency at james@thebksagency.com
Testimonials
Bradfield College had the distinct pleasure of welcoming Pete who spent the morning with the Support and Study Skills Department. Pete was engaging and insightful. He asked thought provoking questions and led the discussions that followed. Pete has given us a lot to think about as we as a college work to support pupils identified with ASC. The department very much valued Pete’s time and the vision would be to invite him back where he could spend the morning with the wider staff body. I would highly recommend Pete to any organisation looking to explore the wider world of Autism.
Kahlen Spaulding, SENCo, Bradfield College, Berkshire
I honestly thought he was absolutely fabulous. I think we have been very disappointed with some speakers and training last year but he was so refreshing. Such a lovely man that put things in such a clear way. I went away thinking anyone new to school who has little understanding or experience with autism would benefit massively from listening to or reading from him. Could we condense him on a few topics and make everyone watch it before they join us 😅. The way he spoke and delivered the training was spot on. He was so understanding of autism and also of us who want our best for the students. Loved it! Books are on order.
– Baskerville School Inset Training September 2023
I just wanted to share with you how utterly amazing that webinar was – moved to the point of writing to let you know. So informative and captivating – Peter had me hanging on each response to well-placed questions.
It struck such a cord – I wish I had watched this 5-10 years ago. Peter’s presentation has given me an understanding of how to better comprehend and recognise autism
– Exertis Board Member
‘Pete is an excellent speaker, honest, engaging and our webinar attendees obviously loved his energy. Going by the level of interaction during the Q & A section our audience had learnt a lot and were left wanting more.’
– Jessica Laditan- EDI Events & Engagement Manager, Chartered Society For Physiotherapists
Mr. Wharmby’s perspective on how to best serve autistic clients receiving health care was insightful and practical. He is a fantastic and well-prepared orator. We hope to collaborate again with Mr. Wharmby in the future.
– Rachel Lee, Occupational Therapy Student
Student Government Association Diversity Chair
College of Health Sciences, Rush University
Pete spoke at our Professionals Conference in February 2020, and more recently at our online Autism and Mental Health Conference, 2021. He is engaging, humorous, honest, and insightful. His thought-provoking talks gain lots of positive feedback from people attending in both professional and non-professional capacities. We look forward to working with him again!
– National Autistic Society conferences team.
I would like to say a huge thank you for the session you delivered yesterday. It was extremely well received, and has certainly got people talking and thinking. Your open and honest account of your own experiences helped people to reflect, and I hope that some of the recommendations, especially in terms of work environments and recruitment and selection processes is something that we can start to work on improving and put into action.
–Equality and Diversity Team, Durham County Council, November 2021
Feedback was relentlessly positive and it was very consistent – here are some example comments:
Such a fantastic presentation thank you.
Thank you – very insightful and brilliant presentation
I had no idea of the myths you mentioned
Thank you very much, very informative and helpful.
Thanks a lot Pete. Very insightful and will help me in my role for sure.
This was a hugely helpful talk, thank you!
Thank you very much for sharing.
– Sally Robins, Communications Director, Capita Specialist Services
Pete gave a fantastic talk that was very well received by our staff and students. An interesting and articulate speaker, Pete helped to increase our awareness of autism and how we can make healthcare and research more accessible for autistic people. Pete has given our team lots to think about and we are grateful to him for sharing his experience and insights.
–Kelly Birtwell, Centre for Primary Care & Health Services Research, The University of Manchester.
Get in touch to discuss your inclusivity needs using the form below:
(Please note that my reply might find its way into your junk folder, especially if you provide me with a work or organisation email address!)