Age and autism Do autistic people get the same age related problems as neurotypicals? University College London researchers have published new research. More

Play boost Whole body play may help thinking skills in children. Research published in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation found that children who engaged in whole-body movement saw improved executive functioning. More

DOGE does damage The Trump Administration have reduced funding available for autism research despite pledging to ‘find the cause of autism’ by September! Key research projects—some of which were midway through completion are in trouble as a result. More 

Work rewarded An intensive care unit has received an internationally recognised award after being nominated by a patient. Kirstie Pope, 31, is autistic and said Kettering General Hospital deserved a Daisy Team Award for the care she received. More 

Type to talk Can AR technology help nonspeaking autistic people communicate? The HoloBoard augmented-reality system lets people type independently. More

Smart solution A new app has been launched which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), to give carers who suspect their children are neurodivergent, "a better picture of what's going on" whilst waiting for a diagnosis. More 

Autism curve Diagnoses of autism have been rising exponentially. Arguments and conspiracy theories abound about why. So what's behind that steep upwards curve? Check out the podcast from the BBC. More

Farage’s fake ‘facts’ The National Autistic Society (NAS) has hit back at comments made today by Nigel Farage, MP and Leader of Reform UK, after he claimed that doctors are “massively over-diagnosing” children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and mental health conditions. More

Health inequality People with a learning disability simply aren’t getting the healthcare they deserve. Severe pain is overlooked when there’s little awareness of how symptoms present differently. Health advice is completely lost when communication isn’t clear enough. More

Name it! Eccentric, blunt-speaking characters who present as being on the spectrum are everywhere on our screens – but why are their creators so reluctant to state it openly? What we have instead are characters who are “autistic-coded”. If you haven’t come across the term “coded” or “coding”, it describes when a character very clearly has a particular quality or basis that is never made explicit. 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



​

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