Try this There have been plenty of newcomers welcomed to the sport of rugby at the Palace Grounds in Armagh over the past five weeks. This comes after local autism support group, More Than Words, teamed up with Rugby Cubz NI, who provide modified rugby activities for children with autism and additional needs. More
Gut news A collaborative Australian study has challenged the increasingly popular theory that gut health drives autism and rejected the use of fad diets and so-called therapies such as faecal transplants. More Seeking acceptance People on the autism spectrum often face discrimination and other challenges in everyday life. In Bulgaria, activists are working to raise awareness and reduce stigma. More Pandemic problems For adults and children on the autism spectrum, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is easier said than done. More Autistic images When photographer Mary Berridge’s son was diagnosed with Asperger’s, she began to see his world in a new light. She set out to capture a series of everyday – and exceptional – stories, one image at a time. More That’s our business In this podcast Toni Boucher (author and autistic self-advocate) describes her “AUntrepreneur” programme which helps young adults launch their own businesses. More Sensory search Since sensory differences became part of the diagnostic criteria for autism in 2013, an increasing number of autism researchers have been drawn to the thalamus. What is it and what does it have to do with autism? More Meeting Melanie “There’s a sense of relief about it and a sense of mourning. Not because I don’t want to be who I am, it’s that I wish I’d known sooner so I could have understood exactly why things were rolling the way they were rolling". More Access to work An autistic woman said her experience of work was traumatising and more consideration was needed for neurodiverse employees. More
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SEND Support More than two thirds of teachers in England report that they never, rarely or only sometimes receive the support they need to teach learners with SEND effectively. Take a look at a new course for teachers and support staff. More
Early is better? Some therapies use play and other activities to reinforce skills that autistic children often find challenging. Trials show these methods can change a child’s trajectory for the better, but the evidence base remains thin. More Seen and heard "2020 has been the best year of my life — for the first time, I didn’t feel the need to pretend to be someone I wasn’t. As an individual on the autism spectrum, I have lived my life oscillating between being ‘different,’ getting judged for it, and reacting by masking my neurodivergence to blend in" More Let me in If museums can do more to reach out to the estimated 700,000 people in the UK with a diagnosis of autism, they will find a loyal and highly engaged audience. Museums were quick to implement Covid-19 safety measures and now they need to apply that same rigour to improving accessibility. More Letting it out “I have to admit reading that report I just cried because it was so jarring to find out that the last 45 years of my life have been slightly different than I thought they were. It means I’ve always had Autism and didn’t know it.” More Lost in lockdown The coronavirus pandemic has continued to negatively impact on both the mental and physical health of people with learning disabilities. Many people with learning disabilities reported finding it increasingly difficult to cope and have found the current lockdown significantly more challenging than the first one. More We're capable The Skills for Health Capabilities Frameworks describe the skills, knowledge, and behaviours which people bring to their work with autistic people. Training/CPD in England must facilitate staff to surpass these standards. More Mixed results New research suggests that social media interactions and relationships benefit autistic folk. However, findings also suggest that some autistic people continue to be lonely and desire in-person relationships despite cultivating social media friendships. More The reason why... A new film is being heralded by some as a huge leap forward for autism representation More
Help early "It would've changed my life": New autism screening method hopes to reduce age of diagnosis and address barriers More And finally "I was diagnosed with autism in my 70s and finally found out I wasn't just bad, mad, or sad." Emily Lovergrove's father told her she had 'never been normal' and the one school friend she had bullied her but she wasn't given any kind of formal diagnosis until she was 71. More Strong bonds Researchers have been working together for the past several years to develop a better understanding of autism through a study that challenged them to fundamentally reimagine the concepts associated with social connection. More Medical help An autistic man has described how he was conscious throughout surgery after the anaesthetic did not work. Corey Burke is working to train medical professionals to better understand people with a cognitive disability. More Me too An Oxfordshire politician has shared the journey which led her to be diagnosed with autism as an adult. the diagnosis came after she began to research the ways the condition manifests in women differently to men. Now she wants to use her public facing role as a local councillor living with autism to raise awareness of the condition, and the different ways people experience it. More Uncertain times "My life has been filled with uncertainty for a long time, but my son has helped me stay flexible, adjust expectations and persevere. The crisis isn’t abating anytime soon. Yet surprisingly, the uncertainty and angst feel familiar. I know this road. As a parent of a child with special needs, I’ve been traveling it a long time." More Let's work Gordon Douglas spent most of his 20s on welfare, struggling to find an employer who would look past his "differences" and give him a break. The 34-year-old battled his way through job application after job application but, despite being highly qualified and intelligent, he often fell out of contention when it came to face-to-face interviews. More Stay alert A free initiative launched this year to make it easier for people with autism and learning disabilities to navigate stressful situations is proving to be a huge success. The Autism Alert Cards enable police and other emergency service workers to communicate with autistic residents more effectively, helping those on the autism spectrum feel comfortable in difficult or frightening situations. More Damaging delays New research has shown that more than 128,000 children and their families risk being ‘forgotten’ by the system as lockdown causes delays in autism diagnosis. More Sound and sensitivity A tiny fish is helping scientists understand how the human brain processes sound, while also giving insight to autism. More Cash crisis Almost 90% of English councils overspent on their budgets for teaching children with special needs last year, and the underfunding is set to continue into 2021. More Finding out "I’m Autistic. I Didn’t Know Until I Was 27. Autism spectrum disorder is inseparable from who I am. I wish only that it hadn’t taken so long to find out." More Anorexia and autism linked? In 1983, psychologist Christopher Gillberg posed a provocative question to the readers of the British Journal of Psychiatry: Could autism and anorexia nervosa share underlying causes? More Tech can help "When my son’s speech and language delay was first highlighted, in 2016, there was a negative stigma attached to screen time with children, both for neurotypical and neurodivergent kids. It took a global lockdown to dislodge that viewpoint, and I'm glad that it did". More Failing health Mental health services need to develop greater sensitivity to the mental health risks in autism. Right now they are failing adolescents and young adults with autism . More Small talk is a big deal Having a casual conversation can be the most stressful part of some people's day. Sheree Somers knows what this feels like and she has some advice for us all to make things better. More See strengths ”Having autism doesn’t mean I don’t have the same goals as you. It means that I am not able to talk and my body doesn’t behave like I want it to.” More Autistic and invisible Girls with autism are not being diagnosed because they are adept at camouflaging their behaviour in an effort to try to fit in, according to a new study. More
Reclaiming research for autism "I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 18 years old. At 18 years old, I began to understand myself. Finally, I understood why I am this way" More Don't generalise Autistic people vary widely in their quality of life, a new study shows. Some report shortcomings in their physical health and school achievement, among other areas, but many do not. More Care to spare Autistic people care too much, research suggests. A journal article in The Journal of Neuroscience was released last week regarding morality and individual gain, comparing groups of autistic people and non-autistic people More Low-down on lockdown "The new [national] lockdown measures are causing a lot of anxiety for people like me. It’s difficult to wake up one morning and be told you can’t leave your house or go to school." More Welcome to the house "I honestly never thought that I would run for office, because I didn't see people in elected office who were like me," Jessica Benham More Spotting signs Sam Bailey says she felt guilty that she hadn't spotted the signs sooner. "Looking back, he has an issue with loud music and loud noises. A hand dryer in the toilet, he’d be like: 'Agh!'," More Why the wait? Families are living a 'nightmare' waiting two years for children to get access to autism referrals More A.I. help for jobs Researchers are collaborating to develop artificial intelligence based software to help people on the autism spectrum find and hold meaningful employment. “We believe that people with disabilities add a needed element to the richness of the American and global workforce,” More Research needs you University of York researchers need your help with a project looking at experiences of bullying in childhood in autistic adults. More
... why not explore the topic of the role of the autistic voice in research a little further? More Safe schooling Are schools able to offer safe and suitable provision for autistic children on an individual basis during 'lockdown'? More Virtual understanding US law enforcement professionals are utilising virtual reality to gain insight into autistic experience. More Distraction reaction Autistic people may have trouble tuning out distractions. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh believe this may account for some of the problems with sensory sensitivity and sensory processing experienced by individuals on the spectrum. More Wired for success Auticon, an IT company, sees the benefits of having a majority-autistic workforce. "Our hybrid onsite and offsite teams utilise the cognitive benefits of autism to provide the sustained concentration and analytical mindset that makes us wired for success". More Autism advocate In 2017, Daisy Shearer, then a 21-year-old physics major at the University of Surrey in the UK, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In retrospect, the diagnosis made sense. It explained the sensory overload and panic attacks during exams, for example, and the trouble she had maintaining friendships. More Lockdown life Robyn Steward and Jamie Knight, presenters of the podcast '1800 Seconds on Autism', reveal what’s been going on in their lives during lockdown. From the pasta dish Jamie has eaten every day for five years no longer being available at the supermarket, through to Robyn’s solo trip to hospital, a notoriously noisy and discombobulating place. More Eating and autism Is there a relationship between eating disorders and autism? Children with autistic traits are more likely than their peers to develop an eating disorder, according to a new UCL-led study. More Siblings stick together Why not sign up for a free siblings webinar? Siblings, parents, and other caregivers can participate in this series, which will be the 2nd Tuesday each month. Next one is June 9th. More We're hiring. Badly! Read about William's experiences of interviews (and what's wrong with the way most firms do them). A great insight into how autistic job seekers are discriminated against. More
That's right "The rights of persons with autism must be taken into account in efforts to address the COVID-19 coronavirus", UN Secretary-General More Family and autism "When my son was diagnosed, I was told the condition was hereditary. Suddenly my late mother’s ‘eccentric, bossy’ personality began to make sense" More Diagnosing 'different' Two women explain the reality of going through life feeling 'different' to their peers but without anyone ever being able to explain why More Quality improvement required Autistic children and adults report poor physical and mental health and quality of life compared with the general population, according to a new survey More Finding a different 'normal' "I have been spending so much time trying to force him to be 'normal' — to follow the standard milestones for child development. It never occurred to me to think he was autistic. A month ago I didn’t even really know what that meant." Read one mother's story More Coping with confinement 11-year-old Elliott gives other autistic kids his lockdown tips More Trouble with transition Autistic young people in transition are more likely to have active medical needs and require a healthcare team that is familiar with autism More Time to talk When Meta Auden realised her daughter disliked certain fabrics and zips, she began to make bespoke items — and ended up launching her own firm. Talking to her teen during this crisis has also given her invaluable tips for parents More What planet? The world has lost a great autism advocate, writer and all round wit. PJ Hughes will be sadly missed. Celebrate his life with the book Me and Planet Weirdo More Tough to talk about? Listen to Amy Gravino, autism advocate, on what parents can say about sex and relationships to autistic youngsters. More B is for bullied A study has found autistic children are more likely to be victims of bullying. Researchers call for more resources to help parents deal with bullying behaviours in home and school. More Rude! "A recent altercation I had with a flight attendant exemplified just how little most people understand about neurological diversity", Laura McKenna (Mum to Ian who has Aspergers). More Touching The inability to tolerate light touch is a telltale feature of autism. What causes it? More Design for life How can autism-friendly architecture change autistic children’s lives? How do we design/change schools for children with autism. More Sad situation Autistic people are four times as likely to experience depression over the course of their lives as their neurotypical peers. Yet researchers know little about why, or how best to help. More A big question Researchers are taking a multi-pronged approach to understanding a great mystery of autism: Why are four times more boys diagnosed with the condition than girls? The lack of information about autism in girls means many are never diagnosed and miss out on support. More Right to work (without discrimination) A Wales Trade Union Congress survey showed only 16% of autistic adults were in full-time paid work. The organisation also said it was dealing with cases where staff were not getting reasonable adaptations in the workplace, required under the Equality Act. More Teachers must train Parents of autistic children have protested at Stormont over the lack of mandatory training on autism for teachers in Northern Ireland. More than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for improvements to be made in schools. More Autism plays a part Actress and playwright Anna Kyle talks about how realising she had Asperger Syndrome has helped her understand and cope with life More
Art of autism At the age of 15, Niam Jain has achieved a level of respect and recognition in North American art circles typically reserved for much older artists. More Seeking social My brother Michael leaves the best voicemails, is a great traveling companion and does a spot-on impression of our late grandmother. Michael is also on the autism spectrum, and has been my life’s best reference for loving someone who is neuroatypical. More Crisis? this crisis "We had to fight for even a basic assessment. Now we’ve been told the school setting he needs is not available" More Not helping A survey of Scottish autistic people has found that over half have had negative experiences while trying to access mental health services. More 'Getting' autismThree golden rules for supporting autistic pupils - we need to move beyond generalisations and bust some of the myths around autism, says Luke Beardon. More That's part of it Mounting evidence supports the idea that motor and sensory differences are notable features of autism. More I declare If you have autism should you disclose that fact when you're trying for a job? If you've been hired without sharing your spectrum condition with your boss, should you tell him or her about it? More Inside story Disproportionately higher numbers of people with learning disabilities are in prison. Around 7% of people in the criminal justice system have a learning disability, compared with around 2% of the population. More Terms of engagement How to approach the difficult world of dating on the spectrum More
Make time make sense “First, then” is a technique used to help organize the day, or the session, or the next three minutes. More Home is where it's at In a new guideline, NICE says children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, who have behaviour that challenges, should have the right support to live their lives in the community like everyone else. More Also Adults "Autistic children become autistic adults and, as the first generation of mainstreamed students grow up, we need to start having 'an adult conversation' around autism." More Designed by autism Every detail of the new Shrub Oak International School near NYC—from windows to wall colours—was crafted with autistic students in mind. More Travel chaos Travelling on public transport can be pretty stressful at the best of times. However, for someone who is autistic, venturing on their everyday commute and facing the unknown can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. More Ready or not? The number of individuals with ASC entering adulthood each year is expected to double over the next 6 years. What can they expect? Jobs, independence, somewhere of their own? More Problem diagnosed Putting autism diagnostic services in the hands of a private provider hasn't worked in Kent and hundreds of children are still waiting. More Help at hand Biometric technology could be the future of autism care. Wristband sensors can monitor tiny physiological signs and alert support workers and clinicians to an individual’s growing anxiety. More |
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