Autistic Consultant & Independent Researcher, Wenn, leading by example to empower autistic individuals and promote quality co-produced research

Welcome to Dr. Wenn Lawson's website

Dr. Wenn Lawson is a well-respected and highly knowledgeable expert on autism. He combines his lived experience insights with professional knowledge ranging from First Class Honours in Social Work to a Doctorate in Psychology. Wenn has been public speaking for more than twenty years and published his first book on autism, "Life Behind Glass", in 1998. There have been more than twenty further books to date since then.

His most recent books are The Autistic Trans Guide to Life co-written with Yenn Purkis (audio version coming soon) and a chapter in the revised and updated version of Temple Grandin's "Different Not Less: Inspiring Stories of Achievement and Successful Employment from Adults with Autism, Asperger's, and ADHD".

Dr. Wenn lives in Australia in Warrnambool, Victoria with his wife Beatrice and is available for training, consulting and speaking engagements. Although a registered certified psychologist with the British Psychological Society since 2012, Wenn is not registered to practice as a psychologist in Australia. However, Wenn operates his own business as an autism consultant, trainer and researcher.

In normal circumstances, he also travels to the UK and Europe periodically and hopes to resume international travel after travel restrictions have lifted. Feel free to explore this website to find out more about Dr. Wenn, learn more about autism, find his books and examples of his presentations (as well as where Wenn will be presenting next and how to engage his expertise). Some of his other recent work including articles and videos can also be found on this website under Resources. The most recent articles are "Autism: Being Neurodivergent Within the World of Neuro-diversity" and "Masking and camouflaging in autism, or hiding from social threat?" Subscribe to Wenn's YouTube channel to be among the first to see future videos.

Wenn is currently co-hosting monthly webinars for the US Autism Association with Stephen Shore & Rob Bernstein - the webinars are advertised via twitter.

A special word of thanks to John Muggleton who created and maintained Wenn's previous website from 1994 to 2017.

Images of Wenn speaking and relaxing

Special Announcement Regarding Diagnostic Assessments and Client Consultations (March 8th, 2022)

It is with a heavy heart, that Wenn has to announce that he will be unable to offer diagnostic assessment services or client consultations for the foreseeable future for health reasons. Click this link to read the full announcement.

"Wenn Lawson and Polly Samuel's (aka Donna Williams) were the first books I read on autism and set my course towards positively embracing who I am. His books and advocacy have had a profound influence on my own growth as an autistic advocate and as a human being. Wenn is a huge asset to the autism community with his presentations and writing being engaging, instructive and thought-provoking. His personal experience of the topics he speaks on, combined with his academic research and thinking results in a comprehensive, nuanced understanding of autism. He comes from an inclusion and strengths perspective and has contributed greatly to understanding around autism and neurodiversity."
- Yenn Purkis, Autistic author, public speaker and advocate.

"Dr Wenn Lawson rocks. Not literally. But in the (NT) sense that his passion and commitment to helping the NT world understand the autie/aspie world is truly inspiring and mind-shifting. There are not many speakers who can so utterly captivate an audience for 3 hours and then have them tweet later that they could have listened for hours longer."
- Lisa, Chief Executive, Cantraybridge College, Scotland.

"Wenn Lawson is a gifted investigative writer, who masterfully weaves research with narratives and pragmatism."
- Liane Holliday Willey (author of Safety Skills for Asperger Women and Pretending to be Normal)