Zoe Torsney is a student on the Doctor of Education (EdD) programme at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). For the past 15 years she has been a literacy and English teacher and lecturer, delivering functional skills and literacy, EAL (English as an additional language) and EAP (English for academic purposes) in community, college and higher education settings. She has a special interest in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), especially autism, and in mental health and wellbeing in education. She is a disability advocate, a member of the Disabled Research Network Advisory Group at LJMU and an active campaigner for inclusive education and co-produced SEND education reform. She is a regular contributor to parent-carer forums and autism research groups as a lived experience expert and an educator. Zoe's current research focus is autism and education, including the language used when speaking and writing about autism and neurodivergence, and the experiences of children and young people and their families in relation to the education, health and care plan pathway.