About this event
- Date and time Thu 19 Nov 2026 from 9:00am to 4:30pm
- Location Online
- Organised by Intellectual Disability, The Research in Developmental Neuropsychiatry (RADiANT) network
Join us for a full-day webinar hosted by the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) Intellectual Disability Section in association with the Research in Developmental Neuropsychiatry (RADiANT). We will examine neurodevelopmental disorders through a female lens. Bringing together leading researchers, clinicians and experts in the field, the programme will explore the latest evidence on female presentations of autism and ADHD, diagnostic challenges and the broader social and clinical implications of delayed or missed diagnosis.
Historically, neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD have been significantly under recognised, misunderstood and underdiagnosed in women and girls. As awareness progresses, growing evidence reveals important gender-related differences in the presentation, lived experience and long-term outcomes of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Why attend?
- Gain a deeper understanding of how to recognise, assess and support women and girls with neurodevelopmental conditions more effectively
- Hear from leading experts, including Dr Ayanna Gibbs, Assistant Professor at the University of Sussex, Dr Eve Holden, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Durham University and Dr Grace Trundle, Principal Forensic Psychologist, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as they discuss current challenges and emerging approaches to assessment and diagnosis
- Explore how integrating lived experience and system-based perspectives alongside clinical evidence leads to better recognition and support for neurodivergent women and girls
- Explore the lived experiences of women and girls with neurodevelopmental conditions and the barriers they may face in healthcare, education and wider society.
Aims:
- To explore the latest evidence on the presentation and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders in women and girls
- To address the historical factors that have contributed to reduced diagnosis
- To identify how neurodevelopmental disorders can present differently across the lifespan in women and girls – including masking and camouflaging behaviours
- To examine the clinical, social and psychological consequences of delayed, missed or inaccurate diagnosis.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this meeting, participants will be able to:
- Apply current evidence on the identification and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders in women and girls to clinical practice
- Describe the unique presentations and lived experience of neurodivergent women and girls, including masking and camouflaging behaviours
- Recognise and respond to the impact of delayed or missed diagnoses
- Apply family and system-informed approaches to care and support.
Who should attend?
This webinar is particularly relevant to:
- Psychologists, psychiatrists and speciality doctors
- Nurses and allied health professionals
- Resident doctors and researchers
- Commissioners, social workers and carers of people with intellectual disabilities
- Healthcare professionals working or interested in neurodevelopmental disorders.
RSM members enjoy free access to over 200 expert-led events each year, including CPD-accredited learning.
Become a member
Tickets
Standard pricing available until 18 November 2026.
Member
| RSM Associate | RSM Member | RSM Resident Doctor | RSM Retired Fellow | RSM Fellow | RSM Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
Non - Member
| Consultant / GP / SAS Doctors | Other HCPs | Resident Doctor | Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| £66.00 | £50.00 | £50.00 | £33.00 |
Agenda
View the programme
Morning session
Chair: Professor Regi Alexander, Consultant Psychiatrist, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Little Plumstead Hospital, Clinical Lead (Forensic LD), East Of England NHS Provider Collaborative
Welcome and introduction
Insights into sex ratios and age of diagnosis from clinical population data in Scotland
Dr Donald Maciver, Lecturer, Research Fellow, Queen Margaret University and Dr Marie Boilson, Consultant Psychiatrist, Health Service Executive, Dublin
Autistic women and girls at the heart: Exploring the experiences of autistic women during diagnostic assessments in the UK
Dr Grace Trundle, Principal Forensic Psychologist, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Verity Chester, Research Associate, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Neurodiversity and menstrual experiences: Exploring the needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities
Eleni Kanitaki, Lecturer, Leeds Beckett University
Panel discussion
Tea and coffee break
CHAIR: Dr Rory Sheehan, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King’s College London
Adverse experiences of women with undiagnosed ADHD and the invaluable role of diagnosis
Dr Eve Holden, Research Associate, Durham University
Black women’s experiences of adult ADHD diagnosis and care in the UK
Dr Ayanna Gibbs, Honorary Assistant Professor, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex
Panel discussion
Lunch
Afternoon session
Chair: Dr Ayomipo Amiola, Specialty Registrar, Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust
Antenatal care and mothers with intellectual disabilities
Anca Manea, Community LD Nurse, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Experiences and needs of mothers concerning their involvement in the life and care of their adult sons with mild intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders who display challenging behaviour and live in residential facilities
Dr Sanne Giesbers, Senior Researcher, Dichterbij Research and Development Department, Tilburg University Research Centre, Tranzo
Panel discussion
Closing remarks
Close of meeting
Location
Online
Registration for this webinar will close on the 18 November 2026 at 1:00am. You will receive the webinar link 1 hour before the meeting. Late registrations will not be accepted.
Webinar recordings will be available via Zoom for registered delegates up to 60 days after the live webinar. The link will be sent 24 hours after the webinar takes place.
The Royal Society of Medicine will record and store this webinar, which may be distributed in the future on various internet channels.