Flourish Autism

Flourish Autism Consultancy & Training was founded by Bernadine Smith, a respected leader in early childhood education, inclusive community practice, and neuroaffirmative Autism support, with more than three decades of professional experience supporting children, families, and communities across Ireland.

Established with a vision of creating a society in which Autistic individuals and their families are understood, valued, and meaningfully supported across the lifespan, Flourish was developed as a professional, neuroaffirmative organisation grounded in dignity, autonomy, accessibility, and inclusive practice.

Bernadine Smith

Bernadine’s longstanding contribution to inclusive education and family-centred support includes her work as proprietor of Small World Preschool and Afterschool Care, alongside the development of community-based initiatives designed to create affirming and accessible environments for Autistic children and their families. Her leadership within Flourish continues to shape an organisation committed to relational, evidence-informed, and ethically grounded support across education, community, and professional sectors.

Amanda McGuinnness

In 2025, Amanda McGuinness joined Flourish as Director of Autism Advocacy & Professional Practice, bringing extensive expertise in Autism advocacy, neuroaffirmative practice, professional education, visual supports, and inclusive systems development.

Amanda is an Autism & Visual Supports Specialist, founder of Little Puddins, and a nationally recognised advocate whose work spans professional training, educational consultancy, Autism resource development, public speaking, and community advocacy. Her professional background includes senior leadership roles within AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity, where she contributed to the development of national Autism resources, professional learning programmes, and strategic supports for Autistic individuals, families, educators, and clinicians.

Together, Bernadine and Amanda lead Flourish with a shared commitment to advancing neuroaffirmative, rights-based, and evidence-informed practice across Ireland and beyond.

Flourish Autism: The Small Business with Big Heart

Flourish Autism Consultancy & Training advocates for practices that prioritise relational safety, accessibility, autonomy, communication rights, sensory wellbeing, and authentic participation across all areas of life.

The work of Flourish integrates contemporary neuroaffirmative frameworks with practical, lived, and professional understanding of:

• Autism and neurodivergence

• PDA-informed approaches

• Intellectual Disability

• Communication accessibility and AAC

• Sensory processing and regulation

• Educational inclusion

• Emotional wellbeing and burnout

• Visual supports and accessible environments

• Family-centred and community-based support

• Inclusive professional practice

Through consultation, training, advocacy, public education, and collaborative partnership work, Flourish supports families, schools, professionals, organisations, and community services in developing more accessible, respectful, and affirming environments for Autistic and neurodivergent individuals.

Flourish Autism believes in making supports accessible and therefore provides a number of supports, resources, and tools available for no fee to the community to ensure families, neurodivergent people, and professionals, have accessible resources available to them without a barrier.

Today, Flourish continues to expand as a leading neuroaffirmative organisation dedicated to bridging lived experience, professional expertise, and inclusive systems change through compassionate, evidence-informed practice.