Jason Arday has been announced as a speaker at the National Autistic Society’s Annual Professionals’ Conference.  

Jason will be presenting the first plenary session of the conference, which is being held live online on 14th March.  His session is titled exceeding expectations; dispelling myths; intersectionality and systematic disadvantages, and we think this will be a great opportunity for all delegates attending the conference to hear about his personal and professional experiences.  

Diagnosed as being autistic at three years old, Jason did not speak until he was eleven, and could not read or write until he was eighteen. 

Today, Professor Jason Arday is a social commentator, presenter, and public speaker. He is currently the Professorial Chair of Education (Sociology of Education) at the University of Cambridge, making him the youngest-ever Black academic to hold a Professorship at Cambridge and one of the youngest academics ever appointed to a Professorial Chair in Oxbridge’s history. Jason was featured in a Guardian Article in July 2023. 

Peter Watt, Managing Director National Programmes, from the National Autistic Society, said: 'We are thrilled to have Professor Jason Arday at this year’s Professionals’ Conference. I’m sure our delegates will find his knowledge, lived experience and insights a brilliant start to the day.'

This annual one-day conference is a unique opportunity for professionals to benefit from knowledge from a range of specialists; giving opportunities to learn from personal insight, professional practice, lived experience and research evidence. The programme will include a number of important topics related to autistic children and adults.' 
 

Professor Jason Arday  

At three years old Jason was diagnosed with global development delay and autism spectrum disorder. He did not speak until he was eleven years old and could not read or write until he was eighteen. He funded his PhD by working part-time at Sainsbury’s and Boots and full-time as a university lecturer. His professorial appointment in July 2021 at the University of Glasgow made him one of the youngest Professors in the UK. He holds an Honorary Professorship at Durham University and Visiting Professorships at The Ohio State University, Coventry University, University of Glasgow, and Nelson Mandela University.  

Jason is a Trustee of the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading race equality thinktank, and the British Sociological Association (BSA). He sits on the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) national advisory panel and the NHS Race and Health Observatory Academic Reference Group. Jason is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). Outside of academia, he has regularly written, featured, and spoken on issues of race and racism in education and society for The Guardian, Times Higher Education (THE), BBC, ITV News, CNN, and more. Jason also speaks regularly at national and international conferences, as well as parliamentary, public and community events where he consults and advises on race, cultural studies, intersectionality, education, and social justice. His passion for tailoring and guitar music has also led to extensive research on the intersection between social justice, politics, class, and race within the context of music. 

In his spare time, Jason is a prolific fundraiser; he has raised over five million pounds for eighty national charities, winning numerous prodigious fundraising awards. His fundraising achievements include running 30 marathons in 35 days, 300 miles in 3 days, and 600 miles in 6 days. 

The Annual Professionals Conference will take place online on 14 March 2024 from 9am-5pm.