Andrea Boon

Hello, my name is Andrea Boon. After a rewarding 25-year career in financial services with blue-chip companies, I am embarking on a new journey to create meaningful change in the lives of others.

My passion lies in supporting and empowering the neurodivergent community, with a particular focus on individuals with autism. This has inspired me to pursue a British Psychological Society-accredited degree with the University of Liverpool, where I’m delving into the challenges and opportunities within this field.

As a founding member of the University of Liverpool Autism Hub, I collaborate with researchers, autistic individuals, charitable organizations, and clinicians to promote awareness, acceptance, and understanding of autism. The Hub hosts free events to foster innovative research aligned with community needs. We were delighted that our work was highly commended by the university’s public engagement committee at its annual awards ceremony.

Currently, my third year research project centres on the experiences of parents and carers of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Despite the critical role unpaid family carers play, there is limited understanding of their diverse needs. My study, “Navigating the Journey: Parental Experiences, Support Systems, and Care for Caregivers Following a Child’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis,” aims to shed light on this essential yet underexplored topic.

Outside of the university, I have lived experience with the autism community as the mother of three neurodiverse children. I have strong local links and I have established a neurodiverse café session in my local community, providing a welcoming space for parents to connect and share peer-to-peer support. This initiative has allowed me to further engage with families, offering a platform for shared experiences and mutual encouragement.

Feel free to get in touch via email: hlaboon@liverpool.ac.uk