About AAPS

Hi, I'm Kertrina Gearing, founder of AAPS-UK CIC and mother to four amazing children, three of whom are autistic/ADHD.

Life has been quite challenging, both in the past and in the present, but has taught me so much.

Enduring years of desperation whilst fighting for the support needed for my children, with little to no help forthcoming, took a toll on my mental well-being.

Initially, I only knew of one other family that was facing a similar situation and this left me feeling isolated and uncertain about where to seek assistance.

Over time, I gradually connected with a few more families who shared similar experiences, and we would reach out to each other seeking answers.

To bridge the gap, I took the initiative to create a Facebook group that aimed to unite people in similar situations.Initially, I expected a maximum of 50 members at its peak, but astonishingly, the group has now grown to encompass over
18.6K members.

As the group expanded, I repeatedly noticed that my feelings of isolation weren’t unique, and it was disheartening to see that others were also experiencing the same constant struggles for support.

I had a strong desire to transform the group into something more substantial, a resource that could offer genuine assistance to parents.

I envisioned a space where parents could find reliable support and a sense of community, without enduring the repeated let downs that had characterised my own experiences.

Our Services:

At Autism & ADHD Parent Support UK we offer a range of support and services via our work:

• With parents/carers of Autistic/ADHD children both pre and post assessment.

• And parent carers and neurodivergent business owners too.

Click on a relevant image below and find out how we can support you.

Click here to find our more about how we could potentially support and empower you in your role as a parent.

Click here to find our more about how we could potentially support and empower you in your role as a carer.

Are you a parent carer or neurodivergent business owner, then click here view our range of support.

Our Mission Statement

Welcome to Autism & ADHD Parent Support UK CIC.

We are a not-for-profit organisation, founded and run by parents for parents.

We are a small CIC with huge goals!

Our goal is to support parents of autistic/ADHD children across the UK.

To bring support and resources to help parents feel less overwhelmed and isolated.Because after all parents are at the heart of their child’s care day in and day out.

When we support parents we support the child too.

We have been supporting families via our Facebook community for many years but became a registered not-for-profit in February 2023.

It is our ultimate goal for AAPS-UK to become a place parents can turn to, safe in the knowledge we are here for them and that we genuinely care.

Meet the Team

Kertrina Gearing

Founder

Mother of Four

Kertrina Gearing is the founding Director of Autism & ADHD Parent Support UK CIC, author and a qualified Coach, specialising in supporting neurodivergent business owners and parent carers.

With over 22 years experience both personally and professionally, she is passionate about giving parents the care and support they need to help both them and their entire family thrive.

Kelly-Anne Smith

Director

Mother of Four

Kelly-Anne Smith is a teacher and autism and parent support advisor who has over 20 years experience of SEN and autism (both professionally and personally).

Through her business, SENsational Life: Supporting & Empowering Neurodiverse Families, she aims to provide fellow parents of autistic children with the tools, strategies, and knowledge so they can provide and secure their family with the support and services needed for an inclusive and happy life