Diagnosis reaction "She asked how I felt about the news, and I couldn’t speak; I took a moment to catch my breath and say, “Shocked.” I’m not sure why I said that, as I wasn’t — but the relief I felt was unreal. I had waited for what felt like forever to hear those words" More

Let's talk work As many as 10,000 young people with autism could gain work placements over the next two years, thanks to a sponsorship deal with telecoms company TalkTalk. More

Knowledge is power Kate McMurdo decided to arm herself with some legal skills when Lewis was diagnosed with autism aged four. After she struggled to find a suitable school for Lewis, she used her legal skills and secured funding for a place at an independent school. More

Tough Transition “Falling off the cliff” is the term often used by worried parents and family members when young adults with autism and other developmental differences turn 18. More

That's Super The Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League gives people with learning disabilities and autism the chance to live their dreams as rugby league stars, playing a specially adapted version of the sport for the clubs that they love.  Now they are award winners! More

Seeing signs Schools are failing to spot ADHD and autism, which could be contributing to a rise in exclusions, an alternative education provider has said. Kelly Rowlands, who runs schools for excluded children, said seven out of nine of her pupils arrived with undiagnosed neurodiversity issues. More

Autism explained It's never easy but Robyn Steward explains autism, and all the terms that go with it better than most. Listen to a podcast with Robyn. More

Autistic and funny with it Comedian Hannah Gadsby - how an autism diagnosis changed her life More

At home with autism Why do so many parents home-school their children with autism? Ofsted’s recent report says that special educational needs, medical, behavioural or other well-being needs were the main reasons behind such a move for parents and their children More

Autistic mother and daughter “She’s still the same girl she was before she got diagnosed,” I said, tears dripping down my face. “And I’m still the same woman you married, too.” More

Autism at work Our brains don’t all work the same way. One New York-based software company sees that as a competitive advantage. More

Need is different from want "My eldest autistic son lives with daily and debilitating levels of anxiety, most probably on account of engaging with an intolerable and inflexible neurotypical world which bombards him endlessly with noise and communication that is not easy for him to decipher." Read about the need for self-regulation activities and the dangers of using them as rewards. More

Order, order! Structure and security are important to all people.  They  are basic human needs. But being autistic often means that these needs are even more critical. More

Cost of camouflaging "Masking or camouflaging is something just about everybody does on a daily basis. Depending on where you are or who you are with, you act a certain way. People with autism have to do this on a much deeper level. We live in a world that was not designed for us, so we learn to 'hide' the things that make us seem different." More

Picture power SymbolWorld is a website created by Widgit Software specifically for symbol users. It has material for all ages and includes news, personal contributions, stories and learning materials. More

Which way with PDA? The Pathological Demand Avoidance profile of autism might need an adapted approach and a different set of tools. More

Seeing sound, hearing colours What can synaesthesia tell us about autism? More

Story of autism and art Kambel Smith was diagnosed with autism when he was eight years old. Over the past ten years, his father has engaged him in daily improvised storytelling, encouraging Smith to participate in the created narrative by making drawings and sculpture. The results are visible in galleries around the globe. 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

You've got a date When you get your 2018 diary, put a note on May 10th. We are pleased to anounce a conference on early years and the autism spectrum entitled, "Great Starts with Autism"
More
If you are a parent of a child with autism or a professional working in an ealry years setting, we need your help with a short survey

Think differently work differently Neurodiversity can be a huge advantage for companies, yet people on the spectrum have often been marginalised. Now some firms are specifically seeking them out. Is this a crucial turning point? More

No Label at the Table Take a seat at the bakery specializing in dairy-free, gluten-free food that only employs adults with autism. More

That's the reality Everyday situations can be stressful for those on the autism spectrum. Step into the shoes of 16-year-old Layla as she attends a birthday party. Hear her inner thoughts and experience how overwhelming an occasion like this can be. The Guardian has made use of Google Cardboard to help us step inside the world of autism. More

Wait too long Experts in the NHS cite several reasons for the long waiting times for diagnosis, including a lack of coordination between professionals throughout the assessment, as well as a lack of resources. More

Mind the Socio-economic Gap Children living in neighbourhoods where incomes are low and fewer adults have University degrees are less likely to be diagnosed with autism compared to kids from more affluent neighbourhoods. More

Bust those Myths! Five myths about autism we need to banish from teaching More

Sister support “Please don’t ask me how I am or how my day has been,” the sign said. “I really struggle with such vague and open questions.” Read the fascinating account of two sisters with autism upfront and central to their relationship. More

Sensory, structured and safe How do we create a school environment in which children on the autism spectrum can flourish! More

Primary importance “GPs and other primary care staff have a key role in ensuring that patients on the autism spectrum (and any carers) have equitable access to health care” Research Autism. Now GPs have a ‘fit for purpose’ learning programme that delivers. More

Team for change Ever wondered why good intentions and well-trained staff don’t always achieve the great outcomes we want for service users with autism? More

Revisiting regression In our modern understanding of autism should we take another look at the idea of regression in some youngsters with autism? More

Me myself 'I'm An Autistic Adult—Here's What I Want You To Know' Three women share how they learned to live (and thrive) with autism. More

Self regulated and successful "It felt like it was time for me to try new things, to meet new people and try to adjust to life,” Zachary Zupko has certainly done that and way more. More

Work not working The biggest challenge for people with autism in the 21st Century is getting into employment. More

It’s as easy as AAC Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is the term used to describe methods of communication that can add-on to or replace speech helping kids and adults with autism find a voice. More

Channeling autism A man is aiming to be the first autistic person ever to complete a solo swim of the English Channel. More

Focussing on futures There is no single development trajectory for youngsters with autism so trying to predict what the future will look like and what future needs will be is nigh on impossible. More

Skills for support And support for skills. Children and adults with autism need a knowledgeable, confident, skilled workforce of helpers if they are to get the better lives they so deserve. That's why we are running our Training for Autism Trainers Programme again this year. More

Can brain scans reveal autism? Recent reports suggest that MRI scans might be able to identify children who are more likely to have autism. It's time for a reality check. More
And while we are talking identification... early and accurate assessment and diagnosis are still not available universally. That's why we are offering ADOS2 trainning this June. More

A question of girls Conventional thinking suggests autism mainly affects boys. But more and more girls – and adult women – are being diagnosed with the condition. And up to 100,000 could be still undiagnosed. More

Matching jobs to autism Tom Cowley had a dream to create computer games, but after six years, had not been able to break into the business. He is autistic, which means he has difficulty communicating with, and forming relationships, with other people. He suspects that may have held him back from selling himself to employers. More
And on the same subjetc...Watch this interview with the author and autism advocate Stephen Shore. More

Teaching kids with autism. What's that like? We need help with a survey of peoples experiences teaching or supporting children on the spectrum. Take five  to help out. More

Fakery stopped A drug and dietary supplement maker has been ordered to cease operations after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that it was falsely marketing products as being able to treat autism and other conditions. More

Coming soon Watch out for a new autism online magazine that aims to talk sense about science and autism. You can subscribe now. More

Your experiences count How have you found working with children with autism? We need your help with a survey. Five minutes of your time will help us build a great set of data which we'll share with you in our new online magazine. Survey

Yellow not mellow Researchers in France and Japan claim to have found that boys on the spectrum dislike the colour yellow. More

Emotion coaching "Many intervention programs used by schools focus heavily on behavior management, but we found that supporting emotional regulation is an important tactic in helping children develop interpersonal relationships and complete school activities" - Jan Blacher of Unversity of California, Riverside. Take a look at the research. More

Out of sight - not right Disabled children in England with severe behavioural and complex mental health issues are being "separated and hidden" from society, a review warns. The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) says these children should not be put into institutions at an early age. More

Who's hiding? “I saw it [being autistic] as an opportunity, not a weakness,” says Jonathan Andrews, 22, who recently won campaigner of the year at the European Diversity Awards. Jonathan  was once advised to hide his autism from prospective employers. Instead, he is making his name by doing just the opposite. More

Go low with Bo  Parent and  clinical psychologist, Bo Hejlskov Elven, specialises in challenging behaviour. In this new blog he offers insights into how the low arousal approach informs his new book (written in collaboration with Tina Wiman) on parental strategies for managing the most challenging behaviour of any child. More

Obsessed with talent Parents and teachers should do more to embrace the preferred interests of those with autism, researchers say, pointing out that such aptitudes can be calming and form the basis for careers. More

Different for doctors Dr. Steve Sulkes discusses the challenges of treating patients with special needs, the importance of educating medical professionals on different brains, and how treating a neurodiverse patient during his residency forever changed his outlook on medicine. More

Play my way Join us for the Big Autism Play Day. A jam-packed day full of ideas about how to support a child’s social, emotional & communication development by building on their sensory profile & interests – through play! More