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

Seen on screen Why are these British soaps so lacking in autistic representation for women? More

Work help A council has started a drive to create more autism-friendly workplaces in its area. Wiltshire Council is asking people to take part in surveys to help it find out what employers are doing, gather examples of good practice and discover what support would be helpful. It is also asking autistic employees what could be improved. More

Meeting halfway Your child’s teacher spends five to six hours with him each day. She doesn’t know him like you do, but she sees things you can’t — or won’t. Here’s advice from real parents and teachers who found ways to work together that really benefited everyone. More

Journey to self A doctor recently diagnosed with autism and ADHD has spoken about her struggle to understand and accept her condition - and the values and challenges it brings to her work. More

Canine comfort An author who writes children's books about neurodiversity said she would have loved to have read those types of stories as an autistic girl. Lin Fidgin's story about a Labrador with autism draws upon her own lived experience of feeling "out of sync with the world" and having sensory differences, comfort in repetition and routine, and struggling in social situations. More

Important announcement Commuters on SMRT’s rail network may have noticed a different voice on station platforms from 10 to 12 April. The voice belongs to eight-year-old Muhammad Khalif Bin Muhammad Khair Abdillah, a student from Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School who is on the autism spectrum. More

Differences alike Recent research reveals that autism and ADHD may not sit in separate boxes at all. Instead, they may overlap in ways that start deep inside the brain. More

Being a mom ‘There are hard days. Days where the world feels like it was not built with your children in mind. Spaces that are overwhelming. Expectations that do not bend. Moments where you feel the gap between what exists and what your children need. Days where you are tired in a way that is hard to explain.” More

Slope success Autistic skier, Annabelle Lamb said she was "super surprised" to win gold for Great Britain at the Special Olympics. More

Eyes have it Research from Japan has demonstrated the use of eye-tracking technology in the early diagnosis of autism. More

Only natural A care farm to support the needs of autistic children has been given the green light by officials. The project aims to provide activities at Fossefield Farm, Stoney Stanton, in Leicestershire. More

Art for autism's sake An autistic artist said he was honoured that his painting of a football stadium will be sold to raise money to help other people with autism. David Downes has painted Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town Football Club, and is auctioning the art for the club's community foundation. More

It’s like this Originally developed by Training2Care, a British company, ARE is a revolutionary, hands-on training programme that allows participants to experience the sensory, cognitive and emotional challenges faced by people with autism. More

Shared goal Watford Football Club have been playing their part and promoting Autism Acceptance. More

Mothers needs New research highlights the unique challenges and needs faced by autistic women during motherhood, including late diagnoses and a lack of professional understanding. More

Our stories ‘Most neurotypicals have no idea how much effort I’m making, how well I’m doing, if you account for the fact that I have taught myself every last thing. Maybe they’ll never know how much work goes into it.’ Wired Our Own Way is a new anthology showcasing the diversity of the autistic experience. More

A mine of information A university campus built in a Minecraft world is helping autistic people to settle into student life. Parts of De Montfort University (DMU), in Leicester, have been recreated by student Eden Turner to provide a place for people to meet up and make friends while playing the hit video game. More

FC is back!?! Clinicians and researchers are rightly concerned about the return of Facilitated Communication in the guise of the Telepathy Tapes podcast. Many professional health organisations around the world have denounced the use of FC. Raising Children, an Australian government-funded website for parents, classifies FC as “ineffective or harmful”. More

Vision for education The autistic voice has been largely missing from educational research and policymaking. A recent research study, co-produced with autistic researchers, set out to change this. More

Postcode lottery A new report by the Public Accounts Committee highlighted long wait times and found the SEND support children received relied too much on their postcode. More

Language abilities A new study from UCLA Health adds to the growing body of evidence on the cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages, finding that multilingualism not only enhances general cognitive abilities but also may help reduce certain symptoms and bolster control of daily thoughts and actions in children with and without autism. More

Eye on quality The Department of Health has appointed Northern Ireland's first independent autism reviewer. Ema Cubitt was selected for the role following a public appointment competition and will take up office in September for a five-year period. More

Future in film  A film academy has given students with autism "life-changing" opportunities to work in front of and behind the camera. Staff at Blaenau Gwent Film Academy in Tredegar decided to start offering apprenticeships after students told them they wanted to further their careers but did not have the confidence to go to college. More

Java jive A Neuro Café brings support to parents and carers of children with autism and ADHD. The Café is designed to provide valuable information and support for parents and carers of children with Autism and ADHD, as well as those awaiting assessment. Those attending will have the opportunity to engage with a range of information stalls hosted by representatives from both statutory and community organisations. More

Waiting in Wales The number of children waiting for an autism or ADHD assessment in Wales could nearly triple to 61,000 over the next two years, a committee heard. Sarah Murphy, Wales’ mental health minister, told the Senedd’s children’s committee that 20,770 children were waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment in September 2024. More

Airline approval Emirates has launched an inspiring journey to officially become the world’s first Autism Certified Airline™, inviting customers with autism and sensory sensitivities to experience Emirates’ seamless services and personalised hospitality. More

Canine confidence An 11-year-old autistic girl has said she "doesn't know what she would do without" her support dog, who has transformed her life. Scarlette, from Hackenthorpe in Sheffield, would refuse to leave the house, go for periods of not speaking and even self-harm before black Labrador Ivanhoe arrived in 2022, her mother said. More

Hiring an advantage What every employer should know about supporting neurodivergent talent. More

Holiday help Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, but it can be difficult for some autistic people. Check out this list of autism-friendly tips for the festive period. More

Not wrong All his life Andrew Davies has had a sense of not fitting in, that he was somehow broken, weird or there was something wrong with him.That was until he discovered he was autistic at the age of 70. More

Highs and lows What ‘High-Functioning Autism’ Means (and Why You Shouldn’t Call It That). Describing people as ‘high- or low-functioning’ is both medically inaccurate and dehumanizing. More

Not autistic enough? How underdiagnosis of ADHD and autism is impacting women.  Former Vogue model Leanne Maskell writes about how she discovered that she was neurodivergent. More

Food and autism Take a look at this study which examined the presence of autistic traits in a sample of adult women diagnosed with different Eating Disorders. More

The play's the thing A fledgling theatre troupe hopes its first production will tell theatregoers some of the things they do not know about autism. Members of The Sixth Sense Collective believe their performance of Irish playwright Jody O’Neill’s “What I (don’t) know about Autism” in Cambridge will put the condition in the spotlight. More

Volunteers needed Experts working to improve breast cancer care for autistic people are recruiting participants to share their experiences of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in the UK. More

Letters and language A recent study highlights that many autistic children show an intense interest in letters and numbers, which may play a distinct role in their language development. By analyzing clinical records and interviewing parents, researchers found that 37% of autistic children had a strong interest in letters, in contrast to just 3% of non-autistic peers. More

BRAvo A TV station in Norway uses reporters that all have learning disabilities. The TV station is called TV BRA, which means “TV Good”. More

Teen power Zoe is a therapist, researcher and autistic self advocate who specialises in empowering teens and adults with ADHD, autism, trauma disorders and other neurodivergence. More
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You decide Election 2024 - It’s time to vote so here are links to all available easy read manifestos. More

West End story Concrete Youth and Barnsley Civic have announced the West End run of SENSORY CINDERS, a groundbreaking new co-production which will be the West End’s first inclusive sensory pantomime specifically designed for audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). More

More isn’t more New research suggests that increasing the intensity or duration of interventions like applied behavioral analysis (ABA) does NOT significantly improve outcomes for young autistic children. More

Not out The government pledged that by the end of March 2024 they would reduce the number of people with a learning disability or autism in mental health hospitals by 50%. They have missed their own target. More

Health alert Common debilitating health conditions, such as anxiety, depression and neck and back pain, may be under-diagnosed in autistic people, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. More

Care or crime? A young man's help cutting a grass verge has been criticised as "criminal damage" on social media by some members of his local parish council, upsetting his family and residents. More

On camera “What was good about my diagnosis was I could say to Seth: ‘It means you’re like Daddy.’” – Dan Turner on being an autistic parent of an autistic child and exploring autism through filmmaking. More

Medical help Autistic doctors are valued members of the medical profession. Watch Dr Seb Shaw on the importance of reasonable adjustments to help doctors thrive. More

If not me Teenage autism campaigner Cara Darmody has begun a weekly protest outside Government Buildings – and has vowed to continue until her demands are met. The 13-year-old from Tipperary has two autistic, nonverbal brothers and became involved in campaigning after they were not assessed in a timely manner. More

Name change Councils and health services in Cumbria are changing how they refer to autistic people after a consultation. The terms Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will no longer be used by the county's organisations unless for medical diagnostic purposes. More

Eyes have it Can a battery of eye-tracking measures accurately identify young autistic children? More

Discovering literacy About one-third of autistic people are minimally verbal, and most are never provided an effective alternative. However, a new study from scientists at the University of Virginia suggests that many of these individuals are literate, raising the possibility that they could learn to express themselves through writing. More

High Tech friend An AI robot has been developed in Pakistan to assist children on the autism spectrum. This AI robot is designed in such a way that it understands the needs of autistic children and provides social support to them in every possible way. The AI robot is capable of assisting autistic children in communication and enhancing cognitive abilities. More

Mechanisms of stress Autistic people may be particularly susceptible to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Recent research suggests that even mild stressors can trigger PTSD in those with autism. More

Deep dive guide "Working in education, I realised that I had the same struggles as some of my students. I became passionate about sharing my experiences and educating people about autism.” More

Fraudsters and fakes The Met Police has launched an investigation over concerns about stem-cell injections being offered to children as a cure for autism. The Royal Borough of Greenwich told BBC London it was aware of concerns surrounding "experimental procedures" on autistic children. The Met said it was investigating "a reported fraud relating to the provision of medical services”. More

Access all animals A Black Country zoo has been certified "autism friendly" by a charity for people with learning disabilities. Dudley Zoo was recognised by Dimensions for its welcoming atmosphere and work to make the site more inclusive for visitors with sensory needs. More

Support star Marie Ward, Sligo Traveller Support Group is the lead Primary Health care worker raising awareness in her community on Autism and supporting parents and families with children diagnosed with Autism. More

What, no assessments? Leeds North West MP Alex Sobel has uncovered what he calls “the startling truth” over the scandal of families struggling to get autism assessments for their children. More

Job creation The North East Autism Society (NEAS) is partnering with creative organisations in the region to launch an innovative new employability and wellbeing scheme for neurodivergent people. More

Game on Northern Ireland's first-ever gaming convention for individuals with autism returns for its second year. Fandom Con, one of Northern Ireland's first-ever gaming conventions specifically designed for and organised by individuals with autism and neurodiverse conditions, is set to return on 25th May. More

Seeing me ‘They don’t see my autism; they just see Hannah’. An 18-year-old Nursing Assistant from Wythenshawe Hospital has shared how she began her dream career path, thanks to a supported internship programme. More

Skills success A programme for young adults with autism and learning disabilities is expanding amid growing demand. Autism Unlimited in Christchurch, Dorset, launched its Futures programme in 2021 for just four young people.The scheme, to help people gain confidence and improve life skills, now has 28 learners aged between 18 and 25. More

Kindness of strangers A community has rallied around an autistic 13-year-old boy who lost his much-loved model aeroplane collection. Kimmie Button said her son Lucas was devastated when he noticed the bag containing his 30 toys was missing. After a fruitless search in Doncaster earlier this month, Mrs Button took to social media to ask for help. More

Animating autism One of the most prominent and recognisable YouTube animators, Ilyssa Levy from Illymation has created and shared emotional, funny, and hard-hitting stories from her personal life that have attracted millions of viewers. More

Making sense Emily Katy was aged 13 and on a school trip when she had her first panic attack. Three years later, she was sectioned after trying to take her own life. The 22-year-old, who lives in St Albans, was diagnosed with autism aged 16 and her life suddenly started to make sense. More

Sounds amazing Autistic composer, Richard Maddock been a professional pianist/composer for 30+ years with albums being used in over 30,000 dance studios worldwide. More 

Comfort quest An 11-year-old autistic boy has said a T-shirt he designed with neurodivergent people in mind has helped others. Max, from Derbyshire, designed a T-shirt made of soft material with seams encased on the inside, no labels, and a pop-it fidget toy in the hem. More

Going underground A Nottinghamshire boy has raised more than £1,000 for an autism charity after riding on every line of the London Underground. Harry Akers, 12, embarked on the impressive challenge along with his dad on Tuesday, April 2. More

Work overload “There’s so much just going on that is so exhausting, so overstimulating" What is the workplace like for neuro-divergent employees? More