Developmental Educator

Barb Cook, M.Aut.(Ed), Dip.HSc.(Nut)

Registered Developmental Educator | ADHD & AuDHD Coach | Integrative Nutritionist

Diagnosed with ADHD, autism and dyslexia in 2009, Barb brings a genuine lived experience perspective to her clinical and research practice. She is a committed advocate, writer, editor and international speaker, having appeared on Australian radio and television, in newspapers and magazines, and in the SBS documentary “The Chameleons: Women with Autism.”

Barb holds a Master of Autism degree (education) from the University of Wollongong, where she also participated in research as co-project lead exploring self-determination and self-advocacy for autistic adults.

Her approach is holistic, working with autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people, including people with a PDA and/or RSD profile, to support genuine wellbeing and quality of life. Alongside her Developmental Educator practice, Barb is also an ADHD and AuDHD coach for professionals and executives, drawing on that same depth of lived experience and clinical knowledge.

In the US, Barb is currently engaged in multiple research projects, including a five-year study comparing two brief suicide prevention interventions tailored for autistic youth, a comparison of cognitive-behavioural therapy versus mindfulness-based therapy for autistic adults, and research into autism and menopause.

She is internationally recognised for her bestselling book on autism in women, Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism, which fills the gap between lived experience and clinical knowledge for autistic women. Her second bestseller, The Autism and Neurodiversity Self-Advocacy Handbook: Developing Skills to Determine Your Own Future, gives readers the tools and strategies to advocate for themselves in any situation. Her third book, Planning Your Career Through Intense Interests, helps young autistic adults navigate career pathways.

Barb founded Spectrum Women Magazine and writes prolifically on autism, ADHD, AuDHD, PDA, RSD, ageing, health and wellbeing. She is also co-founder and director of the NeuroDiversity Hub, her learning platform for autism, ADHD, AuDHD, PDA, RSD and dyslexia courses.

As a highly sought-after speaker, Barb has presented at the World Autism Organisation Congress 2018 in Houston, Texas, and in 2019 was invited by the United States government to keynote “A Woman’s Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs” for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Washington DC. In 2024, she spoke alongside Dr Temple Grandin, Dr Rebecca Evanko and Taylor Heaton at AutFest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on autistic women.

Her work has been recognised with the “A Different Brilliant” award at the Aspect National Recognition Awards and the Leadership Support Award from the Neurodiversity Academy, both in 2021, and a Special Commendation from Queensland’s Governor, His Excellency Paul De Jersey, at the 2017 Autism Queensland Creative Futures Awards.

Outside of work, Barb is a passionate motorcyclist. She also enjoys roller skating and rollerblading at an outdoor rink near her home, both of which support her self-care and help manage anxiety and depression.

Published research:

29 August 2024: Brief Report: Under-Identification of Symptomatic Menopause in Public-Insured Autistic People. Teal W. Benevides, Barb Cook, Laura G. Klinger, Kiley J. McLean, Gregory L. Wallace, Meghan E. Carey, Wei-Lin Lee, Jonas Ventimiglia, Lauren D. Schiff and Lindsay Shea. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.  doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x

19 May 2020: Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project. Teal W Benevides, Stephen Shore, May-Lynn Andresen, Barb Cook, Steven S. Coughlin, Dena L Gassner, Becca Lory Hector, and Lisa Morgan. Sage Journals: Autism doi.org/10.1177/1362361320908410 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361320908410

11 May 2020: Interventions to address health outcomes among autistic adults: A systematic review. Teal W. Benevides, Stephen Shore, May-Lynn Andresen, Reid Caplan, Barb Cook, Dena L Gassner, Jasmine M Erves, Taylor M Hazlewood, M Caroline King, Lisa Morgan, Lauren E Murphy, Yenn Purkis, Brigid Rankowski, Sarah M Rutledge, Savannah P Welch and Karl Wittig. Sage Journals: Autism. doi.org/10.1177/1362361320913664 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361320913664

What is a Developmental Educator?

Developmental educators are qualified professionals who specialise in working with people with disability using a human rights framework to achieve full and effective inclusion and participation in society. Developmental educators consider the whole person and their sociocultural context. Practice centres on the lived experience, needs, goals and aspirations of people with disability.

Developmental educators collaborate with people with disability to promote inclusion and address attitudinal and environmental barriers. They do so by employing a range of professional and technical skills including applying developmental, behavioural, learning and social theories; assessing the person and their environment; collaborative planning and goal setting; teaching skills through evidence based instructional strategies; supporting life transitions; programming, monitoring and evaluation; advocacy; community education; and capacity building.

Source: https://www.deai.com.au/about/what-is-a-developmental-educator

Read the article here by Barb on What Does a Developmental Educator Do and Why This Role Is a Strong Fit for the NDIS

Qualifications/Registrations

Memberships

  • Registered Developmental Educator 
  • Registered NDIS Specialist (Level 4) Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner
  • Full Member – Nutrition Australia 
  • Professional Member – Blue Knot Foundation, National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma