18th March 2021

New role will help us achieve ultimate levels of autism intelligence at Orbis

Sue Hatton has joined Orbis Education and Care in a role created to help achieve ultimate levels of autism intelligence across the organisation.

As Autism Advisor, Sue will draw on her extensive professional experience of working in the education and charitable sectors to ensure best autism practice continues to be delivered throughout all of the group’s services.

Formerly a teacher in mainstream, special and further education settings, Sue is also a published academic in the field of autism having worked closely with the British Institute for Learning Disabilities.

CEO of Orbis Education and Care, Suzanne Lawrence, says: “This appointment is a reflection of our desire at Orbis Education and Care to become a truly autism-intelligent organisation. It is our practical commitment to achieving this.

“Introducing a specialist Autism Advisor to our team is the next stage in what is a continuous journey for us in raising autism awareness and promoting best care practice. We’re delighted to welcome Sue on board and can’t wait to put her knowledge, expertise and experience to good use for the benefit of the families, individuals and wider communities that our services exist to support.”

Sue is a Bristol-based mother and grandmother who has been working with young people and adults with autism for more than 40 years, and is also a keen beekeeper in her spare time.

Sue said: “I’m really looking forward to supporting the development of a pioneering autism strategy at Orbis that will continue to take staff on a journey from being simply autism aware, to achieving ultimate autism intelligence.

“I accepted the role as it was clear to me that there is a serious commitment at Orbis Education and Care to be a comprehensively autism intelligent company, and I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the team.”