About Amanda McGuinness

Amanda McGuinness is an Autism, PDA, & Visual Supports Specialist, neuroaffirmative advocate, trainer, speaker, and founder of Little Puddins, one of Ireland’s leading neuroaffirmative Autism education and advocacy platforms.

In 2025, Amanda joined Flourish Autism Consultancy & Trainingas Director of Autism Advocacy & Professional Practice, where she leads professional education, consultation, advocacy, and neuroaffirmative practice development across educational, family, community, and organisational settings.

Amanda combines legal, advocacy, educational, and coaching expertise within an interdisciplinary neuroaffirmative practice grounded in relational, evidence-informed, and reflective approaches. Her work is recognised for bridging professional knowledge, systems understanding, lived experience, and practical application in ways that are compassionate, accessible, and deeply informed by the realities of neurodivergent individuals and families.

Prior to transitioning into the field of disability advocacy and neuroaffirmative practice, Amanda worked extensively within the legal sector as a trainee solicitor, specialising in probate law, family law, and personal injury law. During this period, she worked closely alongside the principal solicitor within the firm and collaborated regularly with both junior and senior counsel in the preparation and progression of complex legal cases.

Her legal work included case preparation, legal research, drafting legal documentation, preparing briefs for court proceedings, liaising with counsel, and supporting litigation processes across highly sensitive family and personal legal matters. This professional background continues to inform Amanda’s strengths in advocacy, systems navigation, analytical thinking, communication, ethical practice, and collaborative problem-solving within complex educational, organisational, and family contexts.

Following the birth of her eldest son and through her own lived experiences navigating disability, education, healthcare, and support systems, Amanda redirected her professional career towards Autism advocacy, inclusive practice, and systemic change. This transition shaped the development of a professional practice grounded not only in contemporary evidence-informed frameworks, but also in a deep understanding of the relational, emotional, and systemic realities experienced by neurodivergent individuals and their families.

Amanda additionally integrates professional coaching methodologies within her neuroaffirmative and reflective practice, supporting individuals, families, educators, and organisations through collaborative, strengths-based, and relational approaches. Her work prioritises autonomy, accessibility, nervous system safety, authentic participation, and sustainable wellbeing rather than compliance-based or deficit-oriented models of support.

Across consultancy, coaching, training, speaking, and advocacy work, Amanda remains committed to advancing neuroaffirmative, ethically grounded, and inclusive approaches that recognise and respect neurodivergent ways of communicating, processing, learning, regulating, and existing in the world.

Professional Collaboration & Sector Experience

Throughout her professional career, Amanda McGuinness has delivered professional learning, consultation, workshops, speaking engagements, and collaborative projects across educational, healthcare, advocacy, higher education, community, and organisational sectors throughout Ireland.

Her professional experience has included work delivered alongside or for organisations and institutions such as:

• AsIAm - Ireland’s Autism Charity

• Family Carers Ireland

• Inclusion Ireland

• Middletown Centre for Autism

• Tusla

• Health Service Executive

• University College Dublin

• University of Galway

Amanda’s work spans schools, early years settings, universities, healthcare environments, workplaces, community organisations, and family support services, with a particular focus on neuroaffirmative, relational, and evidence-informed practice.

Her interdisciplinary background across legal practice, advocacy, education, coaching, and professional consultation continues to inform a collaborative approach grounded in accessibility, reflective practice, inclusion, and sustainable systems development for neurodivergent individuals and communities.

Enquiries

To enquire about neuroaffirmative coaching, consultation, please visit the Contact page.

Amanda works with individuals, families, educators, professionals, schools, organisations, and community services across a wide range of neuroaffirmative support areas. All enquiries are approached with professionalism, compassion, and respect for the unique needs and circumstances of each individual or organisation.

For coaching and consultation enquiries, please include a brief outline of the type of support you are seeking so the most appropriate guidance and pathways can be offered.