Yvonne Newbold MBE is an expert-by-experience in learning disability and autism thanks to her son, Toby, who has taught her so much over the past 29 years.

Yvonne is the Founder of Newbold Hope which provides help, support and training to parents and professionals who care for SEND children and young people who behave in difficult and dangerous ways.

Due to this work, she now knows several hundred families who have been able to move their children beyond their violent or extreme behaviour episodes and who are now living much happier lives and with a much more optimistic future ahead of them.

Yvonne is also a member of the NHS Assembly and works with the NHS to amplify the voices of her community at a national policy and strategy level in many other streams of work associated with learning disabilities and autism.

Yvonne’s book, 'The Special Parent’s Handbook', is an Amazon number one bestseller, and she does all this work as part of the “bucket-list” commitment she made when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer with a very poor prognosis. She received an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List for services to children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and to their families.