Thom Kirkwood
PhD. FITOL. FIntAPA. MIEP. GA
Thom is a multi-award-winning advocacy practitioner and has more than fifty years knowledge, learning and experience within autism, learning disability and ADHD sector as either one of or a combination of parent, professional practitioner, or volunteer.
Thom's specialist knowledge spans research/reflective learning, test for change projects and innovative technology developments, with specialist knowledge in advocacy within education, social care, employment, and the welfare systems.
Over the years Thom has project managed design and delivery hard and soft infrastructure projects within education, health, social care and housing environments.
Thom was engagement and participation officer within Autism Network Scotland, University of Strathclyde, with a focus on advocacy, inclusion, identification of needs and gaps and a focus on partnership solutions. He would author/co-author reports, collaboratively co-develop training tools and information sessions.
He was the lead for By Community for Community series of information leaflets, advocacy where he started the autism and advocacy roundtable, and led on supported enabling technology.
International Advocacy Practitioners Association as their Global Interlocutor leading a team of sixteen continental interlocutors, across six continents to create the associations international positive advocacy practice manual.
Independent Advisor Renfrewshire Autism and Neurodiversity Project.
Independent Advisor Kaunas Autism
Work Experience
Education
Professional skills
Product Manager