American comedian Melissa Stephens is one of the nominees for the inaugural Actually Autistic Excellence Award, which has been set up by the Neurodiverse Review, a new website that showcases the work of autistic, neurodiverse and disabled artists at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Hundreds of nominations were whittled down to the final eight.

Stephens (pictured) is performing her show Hot Dogs And Tears at the Assembly Rooms. 

The other acts nominated are:

Mark Nicholas
Cerys Bradley: Sportsperson
Mark Grimshaw: Hit Me With Your Autistic
Eryn Tett Finds her audience
Joe Wells: I am autistic
Abby Howells HarleQueen
Eliott Simpson  (a)sexy and I KNOW it

The winners will be announced at a private event at The Spiegeltent, St. James’s Centre, on Thursday 25th August at 3pm.

Picture: Dean Chekvala