How do autistic people experience maternity care? Dr Aimee Grant, Senior Lecturer in Public Health at Swansea University, tells us how her experience of autism and maternity care inspired her to research the topic. More

Social isolation Michelle Myers was diagnosed with autism at 41 and has spent her whole life masking who she really is. She has experienced first-hand the effects of stigmatisation, social isolation, and limited opportunities due to a lack of understanding surrounding autism. More

National crisis The National Autistic Society was formed in 1962 and opened the World’s first specialist school for autistic children in 1964. Recently, though the charity has felt the brunt of Government cuts in funding for care, with several services forced to close. More 

Hubs help The NHS has invested £200,000 for autism hubs to run in Derbyshire. In the hubs, charities and voluntary organisations will support children and young people - and their families and carers - with topics such as benefits, housing, employment, and clinical services. More

Teaching skills Breaking tasks down into their component parts and simplifying instructions will go a long way to helping autistic children master new skills. More

Augmenting lives Communication is key and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can really help. AAC covers a range of strategies and tools which help children and adults communicate. These may be simple letter or picture boards, or very sophisticated computer-based systems. More 

Thinking differently Autism self-advocate Travis Misurell shares how the Future Is Now Coalition is working to make the US democratic process more accessible. More

‘Running is the ultimate stim' Insights from autistic ultra-runner, Ishmael Burdeau, into how the sport of ultra-running can be a place for autistic athletes to grow and prosper. More

Missing school A teenager with autism says going to school can feel "like hell" due to lack of help for additional learning needs. Leonie, 15, from Merthyr Tydfil, would beg not to attend school before she got tailored support. More

Care worsens The CQC's 2020 report said people with learning disabilities or autism were receiving "undignified and inhumane care"; 18 months on it says little progress has been made. More
 
Mind and body A family hopes to start a new charity to give young people with autism or learning disabilities the chance to take up martial arts. More
 
Meeting needs Recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control show childhood autism rates are at their highest level since the CDC began tracking data in 2000. About 2.3% of U.S. children. What are the priorities for support? More
 
Help in a box “Emergencies can be stressful for anyone. Then, when you add in a sensory processing disorder, they already don’t see and experience things in the same way we do,” A US firefighter has developed a sensory tool kit to help fire crews meet the needs of youngsters on the spectrum. More
 
Sibling support Having a younger brother with autism brings challenges. How can parents help? More

Right to work  An increasing number of companies are integrating neurodiverse individuals into the workplace as they recognize their growing number and the unique skills they bring to a variety of jobs. More
 
Food for thought A mum who has previously struggled to eat out with her autistic son has praised a restaurant for "going above and beyond" to help him. More
 
Autistic and unstoppable Sam Holness is an autistic endurance athlete. He's completed triathlons, an event consisting of swimming, cycling and running. He’s run numerous full 26-mile marathons and half marathons and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. More
 
Without the  mask Social psychologist Devon Price explains that masking is any attempt or strategy "to hide your disability." Price's new book, Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity, explores masking, and how to "unmask" and live more freely.
 
Care for carers Carers are key members of the team around the person they support, but the role can significantly impact their life, health and wellbeing. Good quality, consistent support is vital to enable them to continue their caring role. More
 
Where are the women? Despite recent breakthroughs in research, young women with autism are still commonly overlooked by parents, educators and medical providers. More
 
Learning moment After learning she was autistic at 38, writer and podcaster Tara McMullin began reassessing what she needed to thrive at her job. More
 
Legally speaking Autism is not a mental health issue – David Crisp argues for a rethink on healthcare and mental health legislation. More

Minecraft safety Famallama is a family friendly whitelisted server for the neurodiverse, (those with Autism, ADHD, and Special Educational needs). More


















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