Meet eLLIE
Interdisciplinary autism consultant
The Bryant Tree has been a concept long before 2023.
I started University, studying Education in hopes of becoming a teacher- (this was a life-long ambition!), when I had my eldest child, who is neurodivergent. Through studies and my own experiences, I began to notice the enormous gaps that existed for neurodivergent children- and the ways in which systems could so easily work against them.
With the odds already feeling stacked against me in multiple areas, I knew I wanted to understand why these gaps existed, and more importantly, what could be changed.
I studied a portion of Law to better understand systems, accountability and how meaningful change could happen at a structural level.
This then led me to working at the Police.
Although neurodiversity and equality had always been areas I cared deeply about, seeing these systems through the eyes of my own child changed everything.
My child became the centre and the driving force behind the work I wanted to do.
There is one question behind everything I do:
"would i use this for my child- or for myself?"
'If the answer is "no"
it is simply not good enough.
I embarked on my Masters to study Autism and moved to the EDI department within the Police. Following the Police, I moved into the private sector as a Practitioner Consultant.
Over time, I realised the greatest strength I had, was my combination of perspectives that I could provide together: Lived experience, personal experience, professional practice and academic knowledge.
From these perspectives, I have developed practical frameworks and approaches, designed to turn knowledge into action.
I went on to write children's books. My eldest son, co-illustrates the books with me. We bring his creativity, interests and perspectives directly into something created for other neurodivergent children and families.
The Bryant Tree isn't a business I built. It is a reflection of why I started.