Catherine speaks to Lauren Fernandez a trainer, speaker, advocate, content developer and Founder & Director of Mask Off CIC and a fellow trainer on the NHS National Autism Trainer Programme.

Through her work with ‘Mask Off’ she educates minds, challenges attitudes and promotes equality through the 'Invisible' Black autistic Female's perspective.

Lauren was diagnosed autistic at aged 26. She is also a mum and will be speaking at The Autism Show in London this month sharing her insights into maternity and autism, and the needs of autistic people, especially those who face extra identity challenges.

In this episode Lauren speaks openly of her experiences as a black, late discovered autistic woman and the many challenges she has encountered not just as a mother, but throughout school and as an adult, and of her experiences of being sectioned and an inpatient in NHS adult mental health services.

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Connect with Catherine

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NEW National Autism Peer Education Programme

From December 2025, Catherine will be hosting the NHS commissioned and funded 'Autism Central Podcast' as part of the £6 million National Autism Peer Education Programme being delivered by Anna Freud over the next 3 years. Catherine & Caty will be teaming up once again to bring real stories, honest conversations, and shared wisdom. Read more ⁠here ⁠

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Uma is the world’s first strengths-based self-identification service that helps adult women, non‑binary and AFAB people safely self-screen for autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. She also screens for commonly co-occurring health difficulties related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Hypermobility EDS (hEDS), to build a complete brain-body picture.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

UMA are looking for people who are medically diagnosed or self-identify as ADHD or autistic, as well as those waiting on a diagnosis, to try the service.

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About the Podcast

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thelatediscoveredclub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Founder & Host Catherine Asta

Podcast Editor Caty Ava

Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Allora⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The VIC Treaty: "A turning point in our nation's history"