AUTISM NEWSLETTER JUNE 2026 COMMENT

Care with figures Some of the ‘results’ from a recent NI autism study need thought and careful interpretation. More
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Care failing A coroner has said there was a lost opportunity in the care of a 32-year-old man at a hospital that "materially contributed" to his death. For 14 days Tom Parsons  was not given his prescribed blood-thinning injections because of safety fears about administering them. More

Spectrum gazing There’s been a lot of debate recently about the nature of (or even the existence of) the ‘autism spectrum’. PBS explore some of the issues in this video. More

First art Portsmouth has hosted it’s first-ever learning disability arts festival, celebrating creativity, inclusion and connection. More

Behind the rapper Professor Green, real name Stephen Manderson, has long been open about his mental health difficulties and has joined up with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy which reports seven in 10 men don’t seek support until they hit crisis point. More

Emotionally available Cat Burns is an award-winning British singer-songwriter from Streatham, south London. She talks to the National Autistic Society about life and who has shown up for her as an autistic person. More

Sight right A pioneering school-based eye care service will soon help children with learning disabilities and autism across Essex access essential eye tests and vision support in a way that is easier, more accessible and better suited to their needs. More

Policy change NHS Coventry and Warwickshire has made changes to it’s assessment protocol. Where a clinician makes a referral for both ADHD and autism, a patient should receive a dual ADHD and autism assessment providing it is clinically appropriate. This will benefit patients by reducing the number of appointments before a full diagnosis, help to avoid unnecessary delays, and support a better understanding of their full neurodevelopmental profile. More

No link Taking antidepressants during pregnancy does not increase the likelihood of children going on to develop autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to an analysis of more than half a million pregnancies. More

Book recommendation Cynthia Kim shares all the uniqueness of being autistic in this accessible, witty and honest guide. More