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

Home learning A new complex in Hungary will be a home for learning, diagnosis, counselling and education for families with an autistic member. More

Autistic culture "The whole purpose of the show is to defy stereotypes". How to Dance in Ohio is a Broadway musical starring 7 autistic actors. More

Unsupported An autistic woman has been left without the workplace support she needs for more than 15 months because of repeated delays and incompetence by the government’s Access to Work scheme. More

Sharing progress "I accepted the challenge that my son took on fifteen years ago. I have therefore committed to speaking positively about my son” More

Not the stereotype Ife Thomas was  told she was 'too confident' to be autistic. Now she is is raising awareness about autistic black women through social media and public speaking. More

Isolation Autistic people are four times more likely to be lonely than those who are neurotypical, according to a new study. More 

Deeper understanding Jacky Stabler is the owner behind the hugely successful Full Circle Bakes business. She spoke to Glasgow Live this Disability Visibility Day about her experiences living with autism and ADHD and why her diagnoses changed her life for the better. More

Grief Simeon Jackman-Smith tells us how his autism affected his grief when his dad, David, died in April 2022. "First I was shocked, then it was sadness," says Simeon. "Then I was just angry”. More 

Discrimination A police officer was treated unfavourably and discriminated against when she was rejected from firearms training because she is autistic. More













​

Autistic Artist Samantha Gibb is a musical recording artist, an autism self-advocate, and an autism mom. More
 
Word matters Autistic people have strong preferences for terms to describe autism, with unpopular terms including ‘having autism’ or having an ‘impairment’ or ‘disorder’. More
 
Different futures Until recently, the idea that children with autism should be "cured" and assimilated into wider society has been a prevalent one. New guidelines have been released for autism in Australia that aim to change that view. More

Looking back with autism Journalist Sue Nelson was diagnosed with autism late in life – and it made her see her childhood and preferences in a completely new light. More
 
Eating Disorders Autistic people are sometimes labelled as “picky eaters” due to sensory sensitivity. They can start to set themselves guidelines or rules and may find it hard to identify hunger cues and have high levels of anxiety. These factors might make it easier to develop an eating disorder. More
 
Finding out Does learning you are autistic earlier in development lead to better adult outcomes? Take a look at this study. More
 
Waiting for diagnosis “The impact of waits of more than four years can reverberate for life. We owe it to our young people to ensure they get the support they need.” More
 
Creative support In what ways does art, crafting, and creativity help young people with autism? Aoife Casson invites us into her space by sharing a video of her crafting at home and explains how crafting has become such an important outlet for her mental health. More
 
Schools failing More than two thirds of councils inspected by Ofsted last year had “significant weaknesses” in how they support pupils with special educational needs (SEND) – the worst record since the watchdog started visits six years ago. More
 
Perfect present Give the seasonal gift that goes on giving - invite a friend  to receive the Autism Newsletter. It's free! More

 
 

Age and autism The US DHHS has been presented with some of the issues surrounding autism and ageing. More

Autism on stage Autism champion Richie Smith hopes to inspire others by taking his audience on a journey through his mental health problems. More

Eye contact insight Why is eye contact different in autism? Yale researchers have identified a specific region of the brain associated with the social side of autism using innovative new technology. More

Mind the spectrum What is public transport like for autistic people? More

Mental health spotlight Mental health services are invited to use The Green Light Toolkit 2022 to kick start improvements in services for autistic people. More

Right to work Just 2 in 10 autistic people have a job, the lowest employment rate of all disabled groups. But diverse ways of thinking can bring huge benefits to companies. More

Positive parenting “Once you realize that the world is a big giant neurodiverse umbrella covering us all, you can begin to see that there is no single “best” path to take on your parenting journey”. More

Women, autism and eating disorder It’s 2011 and Nicola Shaughnessy is on her way to an academic conference when she stops to buy herself some lunch. As she reaches for a sandwich she suddenly hears a familiar voice from her childhood. More

Moving story Children on the autism spectrum may not always process bodily movements easily - they may find it difficult to 'see' body language.  More

On the ball Swindon Town FC have been giving out sensory packs which have been designed to improve the matchday experience for young autistic people. More 

Ice breaker An 11-year-old girl, who is autistic and has ADHD, has said she struggled to express herself until she discovered ice skating. Teddy Weston is a British and World champion in inclusive ice skating and is one of the first to represent NI. More

Turning teacher Jesse Cross (17) has a knack for coding, but it's not just a past-time or a hobby, it's a profession. More

Young voice heard A 12-year-old primary school student from Cashel, Co Tipperary, met with the Taoiseach on Thursday to urge the government to act urgently on the lack of supports for autistic children in Ireland. More

Access unequal Most autistic children in the Netherlands have used some sort of treatment or therapy according to a new study. But factors unrelated to their autism often decide who gets what help. More

Flying fear For Becca, being autistic means she worries about things that neurotypical people never give a second thought to - “Where are the gates in the airport? How do I get around the airport? What food is at the airport? I get sensory issues with take-off and landing but the unknown is a much bigger issue.” More 

Improve records Schools must collect isolations data the DfE has said this month. Behaviour guidance on the controversial use of so-called ‘isolation booths’ calls on schools to keep records of ‘removals’. More 

Parental advice The BBC has a wealth of parents experiences, autism tips and advice on it’s website. More

Friendly games Barrington Campbell received an autism diagnosis at 30 years old. He said he had struggles making friends while growing up and felt isolated. Five years later he's created Kagai Games, designed to provide tabletop games and events for people with social anxiety. More

​iPhones and autism Apple are reportedly working on an algorithm that will work with the camera in an iPhone to detect autism in children. More

Sibling story "I left a dream job to be closer to my autistic twin. The pandemic has forced many of us to rethink our lives, not least of which is how we work. For me, it meant returning home". More

Mental health New research highlights the quality of life and mental health issues of adults with autism More

Strength of the spectrum Daniel Sobel asks what would happen if we shifted our mindset and attitude – from thinking of the barriers of SEN to considering the strengths and skills that SEN can give students. More

Universities meet challenge Universities are becoming more autism-friendly with staff receiving training in autism, specific calm spaces created on campuses and advice and videos for autistic students. More

High fives for autism A mum has written an emotional letter to an Asda in Wigan, thanking a member of staff for his act of kindness towards her five-year-old son  with autism. More

Play help A mum from Croydon is speaking out as she seeks better support for autistic kids outside of school. Neve Knight said that while there are options to keep children entertained and active in Croydon during the day, precious few offer adequate support for SEN kids with specific conditions such as her five-year-old son Brody's autism and ADHD. More

Finding me “Dinosaurs didn’t only make our boy happy, they gave us a window into Ted’s world." ​How dinosaurs have transformed the life of Ted, a little boy with autism. More

Accessible art An art exhibit in Edmonton looked a little different this month, the lights were dimmed and the music lowered to provide a sensory-friendly experience. The small changes made a big difference for families with autistic children. More



​

Story time Try this easy to use interface for creating and saving your own social stories or visual schedules More

College lifeline  This university programme helps autistic students navigate the social and academic world of higher education More

Autistic strength Nathias Frederick opens up on dealing with Asperger's and speech problems as he tackles latest MMA challenge More

Not weird "I was born in what I like to call a time before there was such a thing as autism." After a late diagnosis J.R. Reed shares his journey to becoming an autism self-advocate. More

Searching for sleep Beyond the well-established importance of high-quality sleep to general health, providing support and therapy to improve sleep quality in autistic children also may help them develop better behavioral regulation as they grow older. More

Autism fine focus "If I wasn’t autistic, would my encyclopedic knowledge of dinosaurs be a problem?". Some models of autism frame special interest as something unsettling and obsessive. This is an unfair double standard. More

Get over us "It’s difficult being autistic in a neurotypical world. Some of us live in secret, others loud and proud, but we are united by a self-evident truth that we should be treated equally". More

Autistic on the inside "Autism runs in my family. My personal and professional partner David is autistic, as are his three grown children. Between my work, advocacy, and family life, I’m pretty much immersed in autism!" An autism advocate shares the importance of parents immersing themselves in autistic culture. More

Finding our futures “Your child will never speak or live independently,” the doctor told Kimberlee McCafferty flat out. His words dropped like an anvil, leaving McCafferty shaken. “I remember thinking, ‘That’s a pretty damning statement to make when the child is not yet potty trained.’” More

You need to know Timothy Rohrer, a young man with autism, has authored a book about inclusion, and he aims to stock school libraries and educate all. More

Making 'unbreakable' Parents of kids with autism benefit from a programme of scientifically backed strategies to build acceptance, mindfulness, optimism and resilience - and to improve family relationships. More

At a difficult age Researchers are just beginning to learn what happens in the brains of autistic children during adolescence to explain their unique social, cognitive and emotional challenges More

Financial fight "You're literally having to fight people to get what you know your child is actually legally entitled to," Anna Geldard spent £20,000 fighting for the Education, Health and Social Care Plan (EHCP) her child is entitled to. More

Super supporters Volunteers and medics have been praised for the way they helped a woman with learning difficulties get her first vaccination jab. Lucie Willis has autism and epilepsy and her parents Helen and Mark were apprehensive about how she would cope with going to York's vaccination centre More

More autism Autism is more common in children in England than previously thought –  a study at University of Cambridge also found that prevalence numbers varied by ethnicity and levels of deprivation More

Video sharing Bristol group Autism Independence has launched a series of multi-language short films to dispel myths about autism in the Somali community, "We hope that our films, particularly the version in the Somali language, can reach many more families and reassure parents." More

Sensory shopping "As an autistic, I always need to take my disability into account when I make consumer choices. Something a neurotypical person may not even notice—a beep, a buzz, a scratchy tag—can overwhelm my senses". More

Sounds good Many children with autism struggle to find the words to express how they feel. But when it comes to music, it’s an entirely different situation. How can teachers incorporate music in everyday lessons? More

Positive pathways What do we know about encouraging employment and thereby fostering independence among autistic young adults? A team in Cambridge, MA think they have a few answers More

Help in mind 2020 hasn’t been an easy year for teens. Covid-19, exam cancellations and school closures have made it the most disrupted school year in 75 years. The folks at myTutor have some ideas about how parents can equip their teens with tactics and tips to cope with whatever life throws at them. More

Ideas please Parenting any child is challenging, but the joys and feelings that come with parenting a child with special needs are unique. Wondermoms is a great source of advice and ideas. More


​

The reason why... A new film is being heralded by some as a ​huge leap forward for autism representation More

Help early "It would've changed my life": New autism screening method hopes to reduce age of diagnosis and address barriers More

And finally "I was diagnosed with autism in my 70s and finally found out I wasn't just bad, mad, or sad." Emily Lovergrove's father told her she had 'never been normal' and the one school friend she had bullied her but she wasn't given any kind of formal diagnosis until she was 71. More

Strong bonds Researchers have been working together for the past several years to develop a better understanding of autism through a study that challenged them to fundamentally reimagine the concepts associated with social connection. More

Medical help An autistic man has described how he was conscious throughout surgery after the anaesthetic did not work. Corey Burke is working to train medical professionals to better understand people with a cognitive disability. More

Me too An Oxfordshire politician has shared the journey which led her to be diagnosed with autism as an adult. the diagnosis came after she began to research the ways the condition manifests in women differently to men. Now she wants to use her public facing role as a local councillor living with autism to raise awareness of the condition, and the different ways people experience it. More

Uncertain times "My life has been filled with uncertainty for a long time, but my son has helped me stay flexible, adjust expectations and persevere. The crisis isn’t abating anytime soon. Yet surprisingly, the uncertainty and angst feel familiar. I know this road. As a parent of a child with special needs, I’ve been traveling it a long time." More

Let's work Gordon Douglas spent most of his 20s on welfare, struggling to find an employer who would look past his "differences" and give him a break. The 34-year-old battled his way through job application after job application but, despite being highly qualified and intelligent, he often fell out of contention when it came to face-to-face interviews. More

Stay alert A free initiative launched this year to make it easier for people with autism and learning disabilities to navigate stressful situations is proving to be a huge success. The Autism Alert Cards enable police and other emergency service workers to communicate with autistic residents more effectively, helping those on the autism spectrum feel comfortable in difficult or frightening situations. More

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