Kira McCarthy is an autistic advocate, trainer, and consultant with over ten years’ experience delivering autism training to educators, employers, criminal justice staff and parents and, on occasion, performing on the stage. She has also recently completed her MSc Autism.

 

Kira  first began sharing her story with primary and nursery teachers at the age of 14, and since then her audience has grown to include employers, educators, students, parents and carers and  criminal justice staff across a range of organisations. In 2017 she had the privilege of co-delivering a presentation to the First Minister and Cabinet, bringing honest lived experience from a young woman who grew up autistic.

 

She later co-founded and directed an autism training company for six years and has worked as a specialist mentor supporting neurodivergent students in higher education. Leading with compassion and collaboration and ensuring autistic people and their families feel validated and valued, is at the heart of everything she does.

 

Canvas Autism Consultancy & Training is a project rooted in Kira's commitment to authentic advocacy and meaningful collaboration to promote better outcomes for autistic people and their families. 

 

In her spare time, Kira enjoys creative hobbies (drawing, painting, and crochet), and watching documentaries about history, the ocean, or any other topic that captures her interest.