April 28, 2025
To mark World Autism Acceptance Month this April, Helen Page shares her journey as an autistic RVN, highlighting the importance of autism awareness in the workplace and how she found support at IVC Evidensia’s The Neighbourhood Vet.
With only 30% of the UK’s population of autistic adults in any form of employment, it is important to showcase our strengths and share why we deserve equal opportunities.
In 2017, I joined the veterinary industry as a care assistant and soon commenced my veterinary nurse training. With multiple diagnosed disabilities including autism, dyspraxia and dyslexia, I defied the odds and became qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) in 2022.
During this time, I overcame the many challenges neurodiversity poses, such as passing exams and completing practical assessments. Although I recognise that it took me a lot longer to reach this goal compared to peers, my tenacity and perseverance helped me succeed in the end.
However, life since qualifying as an RVN has not been plain sailing either. Whilst I was more than able to gain interviews and secure employment, finding an inclusive practice proved challenging.
I faced a lot of hardship with past employers unwilling to give me a chance or consider provisions to support me at work, despite my transparency about my disabilities at the recruitment stage. This caused me to lose the self-esteem and confidence I’d built as an RVN. By this point, I’d worked for a couple corporate companies, across several different small branches and in 24-hour veterinary hospitals.
This all changed in May 2024 when I joined The Neighbourhood Vet in East Dulwich, and I got my big break in life as an RVN. Since joining, the team have been very caring, supportive and flexible in making adjustments to help me settle into the role. Additionally, they have a positive outlook on the autism spectrum and understand the benefits it brings to the job. With encouragement from my team, I’ve been able to demonstrate my attention to detail, attentiveness, focus-driven performance, strong work ethic and customer service skills.
To further support me, I benefit from regular one-to-one meetings with my nursing management team, ensuring any issues are discussed, and appropriate adjustments put in place. The appraisals process also ran efficiently, as there is a clear focus on what the employee wants to achieve and gain from the role. There’s no negativity, just constructive feedback and support offered.
It was certainly a surreal experience having my appraisal, in fact I left the meeting with my fist pumping the air – it was the best appraisal I ever had! It was led with so much professionalism, as well as praise and positivity.
One of The Neighbourhood Vet’s supportive initiatives is our quarterly mental health rounds. Most recently, we had a round focusing on neurodiversity in the workplace, where I gave a talk to the team. This gave me the opportunity to educate on autism awareness and be a role model in the practice.
It was also great to see my management team getting involved and providing everyone with information and resources so they could better understand neurodivergent colleagues and know how to support them. It’s just wonderful how the team has embraced me here.
Like the rest of my team, I’m involved in all aspects of veterinary nursing. I particularly enjoy doing nursing consults here, especially ones that are nutrition based. So far, I’ve held weight management consults and I’m currently working towards my Royal Canin Weight counsellor certificate. I love being busy and the diversity of the role. No two days are the same at this practice!
Today I’m rebuilding my confidence and self-esteem in the job that I love and learning to trust people again. Joining The Neighbourhood Vet has changed my life, and I cannot thank my team and IVC Evidensia enough for the wonderful opportunity I have been given.
My advice to fellow neurodiverse colleagues and aspiring vets and nurses is don't give up on your hopes and dreams! The right team is out there waiting for you, even if it takes a few tries and working at different places.
As a Disability Confident Employer, IVC Evidensia is committed to providing opportunities for all and offers flexible working options to remove barriers to work.
Learn more about IVC Evidensia’s new E-learning module, Neurodiversity in the Workplace from Group Quality Improvement Director Laura Playforth, who shared her thoughts during Neurodiversity Celebration Week.