Heta Pukki is autistic and partially sighted, as well as mother, family member or close friend of several autistic and otherwise neurologically different people, some of them disabled and some not. Her background is in biology and special education with a focus on autistic adults. She has been involved in developing peer support, advocacy, networks and organisations for autistic people for the past 25 years, in her home country Finland and internationally, in a variety of volunteer and professional roles involving NGO work, project coordination, training and translation of professional literature. She is currently President of the umbrella organisation European Council of Autistic People, which connects 25 autistic-led groups and organisations in Europe, with the aim of helping them to identify shared goals and advocate for their members.