Meet Andy Fleming

After qualifying as a mental health nurse in 1988, following a short period working within an adult inpatient service I then went on to complete my adult learning disability training.

In 2006 I was appointed to the role of specialist autism nurse practitioner where I was tasked with developing an adult autism service, this included developing the diagnostic assessment service, providing autism assessment and support plans based on the person’s individual autism profile. I also provided staff training and support to families and carers. I chaired our local autism clinical development group, which had representations from all of the multi-disciplinary team.

I undertook a post graduate diploma in autism studies at Strathclyde university. I retired from the NHS in 2021 after 37 years and then came to work at ADC. I’m particularly interested in the different female presentation in autism, there is long history of lower rates of dx in females compared to males, where woman may be misdiagnosed or not receive a diagnosis until later in life. Women with autism may appear to have fewer social difficulties than men but this could be due them masking or camouflaging those difficulties.