Challenges at school 2nd February 2023 Creating the right environment and providing the right support helps to ensure that their educational experience is a positive one which empowers them to thrive at s… Read More
New autism services directory now live! 28th March 2022 We are delighted to announce that our new autism services directory is now live! We understand the importance of empowering people with information and resources.… Read More
Mental health support services 7th February 2022 General The following services are national organisations providing support for all age ranges as well as parents: NHS Mind Rethink Mental Illness Anx… Read More
Autism and mental health 7th February 2022 70–80% of autistic children and adults experience or have experienced mental health problems in their lifetime. Accessing the right support at the right time is so i… Read More
Making food fun 14th January 2022 Play is a fantastic way to increase exposure to food and build positive food experiences. Resistant eaters can benefit from contact with food in ways unrelated to me… Read More
Are eating habits associated with autism a barrier to education? 12th January 2022 It’s long been proven that a varied, nutrient rich diet is important for our brain. Consequently, restrictive diets may affect a child's learning.… Read More
Knowing the signs: eating disorders and autism 12th January 2022 Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can significantly impact a person’s health and wellbeing. There isn’t a simple explanation or a single cause: eati… Read More
Food modifications 12th January 2022 Selective or restrictive eating is the most common eating challenge faced by autistic children and their families. Mealtimes can become difficult with foods often r… Read More
Autism and eating disorders 12th January 2022 Research shows that up to 89% of autistic children display some form of difficulties around eating… Read More
Tips for Healthy Eating 12th January 2022 Issues around eating can be common amongst autistic people. Below are some handy tips to help with problems that may arise. It is important to note that advice fro… Read More
Autism and eating 12th January 2022 Lots of children go through periods of picky eating. For many, this phase will pass as the child gradually learns to accept new foods. For autistic children and thei… Read More
Causes of autism 31st August 2021 Current thinking suggests that autism occurs due to a variety of physical factors which have an impact on the way that the brain develops. It is also possible that t… Read More
Autism FAQ’s 1st December 2020 What is autism? Autism usually appears in the early years of a child’s life. It is complex and can affect a person’s communication, relationships, social skills, an… Read More
Sensory processing 30th March 2020 For people with sensory processing difficulties, the central nervous system does not organise sensory information into appropriate responses. Instead it interprets t… Read More
Exclusions 30th March 2020 Children with Special Educational Needs are 4.5 times more likely to be excluded for a fixed period or permanently than pupils with no special educational needs [1].… Read More
Tribunals and appeals 30th March 2020 Why you may want to appeal a decision You can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal if you don't agree with a decision your Local… Read More
Education choices 30th March 2020 Speak with the professionals that have worked with you and your child to date – nursery providers, teachers, educational psychologists or inclusion teams. You know y… Read More
Routine and planning for change 30th March 2020 How routines can help Having consistency in situations can help autistic people to deal with them more easily. For example, if a young person finds it hard gettin… Read More
Self-stimulatory behaviour 30th March 2020 What is self-stimulatory behaviour? Everyone has self-stimulatory behaviours – it could be fiddling with hair, bouncing a leg or chewing on a pen. Reasons for sel… Read More
Our position on ABA 30th March 2020 We are aware of the controversy that is linked to Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and that some autistic people have had a negative experience of ABA. This is a res… Read More
Communication methods 30th March 2020 Method Description Pros and Cons Makaton symbols and signing Using symbols, signs and speech as a form of communication. Signs are used… Read More