Who we are…
ND Social Care was founded by Mary Cartlidge, a qualified social worker with extensive experience in statutory and independent settings, and Tanya Adkin, a specialist in autism
and neurodivergence with a strong background in research and lived experience.
Together, we offer a unique and comprehensive perspective on social care practice. Our work is rooted in neurodivergent-affirming and trauma-informed values, aiming to deliver high-quality independent assessments, mentoring, and consultation. We support both families and professionals across health, education, and social care, bridging the gap between systems and lived realities with compassion, integrity, and specialist insight.
Our story…
At ND Social Care, we know that choosing the right support can feel overwhelming.
Families and individuals want to know not just what we do, but who we are and what guides our work.
Mary Cartlidge is a qualified and registered social worker with a First Class Honours degree in Social Work. She has many years of both lived and professional experience working with families across local authority and independent social care settings. Her practice is guided by clear professional standards, ethical responsibility, and a strong commitment to getting things right for individuals and families.
Tanya Adkin holds a Master’s degree in Autism and is a published researcher specialising in autism and neurodivergence. She is a well-known voice in autism and neurodivergence, with her work read by tens of thousands of people. Families and professionals alike draw on her writing to better understand neurodivergent experiences in respectful, practical ways. Her work is shaped by both research and lived experience and focuses on rights-based, trauma-informed, neuro-affirming practice.
ND Social Care is affiliated with several neurodivergent-affirming organisations, including PANDAS Online, The Big E, and The Autistic Advocate. These affiliations reflect our shared commitment to listening to neurodivergent voices, challenging deficit-based narratives, and supporting with compassion and integrity.