About me
Dr Annette Foster
Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD educator, researcher, consultant and facilitator
I am AuDHD, Dyslexic and Dyspraxic. My work is shaped by lived experience, research, creative practice and years of working alongside neurodivergent people in educational, arts-based and community settings.
Since 2015, I have developed and delivered neurodivergent-led programmes, workshops and support for Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people.
I know how important it can be to find language, community and practical support that helps your experiences make sense.
My approach focuses on self-knowledge, practical strategies, creative and reflective methods, and creating environments where neurodivergent people can thrive.
Professional background
Dr Annette Foster is an experienced creative educational project manager, researcher, lecturer and facilitator with more than twenty years of experience across arts-based education, inclusive pedagogy and creative research.
Her work focuses on designing and delivering neurodivergent-led programmes, peer support spaces and participatory projects with young people and adults.
Annette holds a Practice as Research PhD from the University of Kent and is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate on ATTUNE, a major interdisciplinary research project led by the University of Oxford.
She has experience leading multidisciplinary teams, developing resources, managing creative and educational projects, and creating inclusive learning environments through applied research and collaborative practice.
'Adventures of Super Autie Grrl.' Aphra Studio, University of Kent, 2017. A performance by Annette Foster about her experience of being neurodivergent.
How I work
How I work
Neurodivergent-led
I work from the understanding that neurodivergent people are not problems to be fixed. We all have strengths, challenges, needs and limits. When these are properly understood, support can be built around the person rather than expecting the person to constantly adapt to systems that do not work for them.
Participatory and community-led
My work is shaped by the voices, experiences and knowledge of Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people. Whether I am designing a workshop, developing training or working on a research project, I believe the people most affected should be part of shaping the work.
Practical and grounded
I care about ideas, but I also care about whether they work in real life. My work focuses on self-knowledge, practical strategies, accessible environments and meaningful change in everyday settings.
Creative and reflective
I use creative, arts-based and reflective methods to make space for different ways of thinking, communicating and participating. Not everyone processes or expresses things in the same way, and support needs to make room for that.
Experience
Research and creative practice
My work is shaped by practice as research, participatory arts, creative education and neurodiversity-informed approaches.
I have worked across projects including Autistic [Neuro]Queer Pioneers, So You're Autistic? and UoKA, Playing A/Part, Imagining Autism, ATTUNE and CLINIC.
For a fuller overview of my research, teaching and creative practice, visit my Projects page.
View ProjectsFeatured work
UoKA and So You're Autistic and/or ADHD
At the University of Kent, I co-developed and facilitate UoKA (University of Kent Autistic Peer Support Group) and So You’re Autistic and/or ADHD, or you think you might be? (SYA?), two neurodivergent-run programmes supporting Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD students, including those who are formally identified, self-identifying or exploring neurodivergence.
These programmes are built on the belief that neurodivergent people are best placed to support each other, and that peer-led, community-centred support makes a real difference to people's lives.
"It is the only Autistic-run programme I have heard of in any university, which is vital for understanding, support and providing essential skills."
Education
Academic qualifications
PhD in Drama (Practice-as-Research)
University of Kent
Thesis: Autistic (Neuro)Queer Pioneers — Participatory performance and visual art exploring the experiences of late-diagnosed Autistic women and non-binary people.
PGCE in Lifelong Learning
Nottingham Trent University
MFA in Multimedia Performance, Live Art and Painting
Arizona State University
BA in Fine Arts
Montana State University
Previous study at University of Washington, 1991 to 1994.
Research
Selected publications
Williams, E. et al. (including A. Foster). (2023). Practitioner Review: Effectiveness and mechanisms of change in participatory arts-based programmes for promoting youth mental health and well-being. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64(12), 1735–1764.
Farahar, C., and Foster, A. (2021). #AutisticsInAcademia. In N. Brown (Ed.), Lived Experiences of Ableism in Academia: Strategies for Inclusion in Higher Education. Policy Press.
Recognition
Awards and funding
Want to work together?
Whether you are looking for support for yourself, someone you care about, or an organisation you work with, you are welcome to get in touch.