AUTISM NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2025 COMMENT

Independence Works Bailey has been thriving in his work experience at Waterhouse’s Quality Food in Cheadle Hulme since January. The greengrocer has become a second home for him, and he’s making great strides on his path to independence. More

Dental health A new, free, online support package aims to empower parents of young autistic children to look after their dental health – and reduce levels of tooth decay and surgery. It follows a study led by the School of Dentistry at the University of Leeds, which highlights the oral health challenges faced by autistic children. More

​Diagnosis divide Children in the North of England are waiting up to three years longer than those in the south for an autism diagnosis, new data analysis shows. More

Complex truth Scientists will not find a simple answer to how autism arises, despite Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s promise to announce its causes sometime this month. Here’s what makes the condition so staggeringly complex. More

Wellbeing Mental health problems can often be missed in people with learning disabilities because conditions or symptoms may present differently than in the general population. In addition, people with learning disabilities may not realise the significance of events, have trouble recalling information or not understand what is happening or being asked of them. More

Communication Makaton signs of the week are a great way to extend your signing vocabulary. More

Access to health New screening videos make health information more accessible for people with learning disabilities. More

Myths challenged “The nonspeaking autistic community is socially vulnerable and frequently experience nonacceptance and exclusion. As a member of this community, I am driven to bust some myths”, Timothy HoYuan Chan. More

Older problem The majority of autistic adults aged over 40 remain undiagnosed, with the numbers even higher in the over-60 population, according to new research from King’s College London. In the largest review of its kind, the researchers also found that middle-aged and older autistic adults are facing higher rates of mental and physical health conditions than non-autistic adults of the same age. More

Way into work A father says a scheme which helps young people with learning disabilities into work has been life-changing for his son. Andy Darlaston's son Harry is autistic and was part of the scheme, ending up with an internship at a firm which manufactures signs in Warwickshire. More