Interview with Chris Bonnello - Creating Autism Friendly Environments in Schools

In this episode we're talking about something that can make aprofound difference to the everyday experience of autistic students: creatinggenuinely autism-friendly environments in schools.

I'm delighted to be joined by Chris Bonnello, anaward-winning speaker, educator, author and advocate who brings both professional and personal insight to conversations around autism, neurodiversity and education.

For many autistic young people, the challenges theyexperience at school aren't necessarily about their ability to learn. They can be created by the environment around them—the noise, communication, expectations, transitions, sensory demands, social pressures, and sometimes simply a lack of understanding.

So today's conversation is about moving beyond autismawareness and asking a more practical question:

What can schools actually do to createenvironments in which autistic students can feel understood, included and able to thrive?

And importantly, how can schools look honestly at their ownenvironment and identify where improvements could be made?

That's something particularly close to my heart, and it'swhy I developed my Checklist for Autism Friendly Environments 2026—apractical tool designed to help organisations reflect on how autism-friendly their environments really are and identify areas for improvement. ( Free download at www.aboutautism.co.uk)

We reflect on how schools can make changes and where to start.