Prof. Olga Bogdashina, Ph.D. (linguistics), MSc (Psychology), MA (Teaching methods) MA Ed (Autism), Honorary Professor, Honorary Doctor, KSPU, Co-founder of the International Autism Institute, and Programme Leader (Autism courses), Visiting Professor in Autism Studies, author of 9 books that reflect her specific interests in autism research: sensory perceptual issues in autism; language and communication in autism; autism and spirituality.

Having founded the first day centre for autistic children in Gorlovka,  Ukraine over 30 years ago, she has ‘lived and breathed autism’ since then. However, before 1988 – she knew absolutely nothing about autism or just how much it would mean to her and change her life.