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

Robot help Can an interactive robot help teach children on the autism spectrum how to navigate the social world? More

Employment gap Adults with autism and learning disabilities are rarely in paid employment. Not surprisingly, there are calls for businesses to become more inclusive. More

Fair justice Autistic people, like anyone else, can sometimes come into contact with the criminal justice system.  A new report illustrates how lack of support for young autistic people, both before entering and within the system, can have profoundly negative consequences on future life chances. More

Thinking in pictures Autistic scholar Temple Grandin: ‘The education system is screening out visual thinkers’. By favouring verbal thinkers, says the author and animal scientist, essential skills are being lost. Her new book aims to demonstrate the power of processing information in different ways. More

Eating disorders Accurate diagnosis is of vital importance in the treatment of anorexia nervosa in autistic women. More

Crowd pleaser An autistic family member was able to attend his sister's final school volleyball game of the season after the crowd offered to stay silent for him. Only the referee's whistle and the players talking were heard as Payton Carattini watched his sister Melina. More
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Unhealthy system A charity has called for a public inquiry into failings in mental health care. Mental health charity Mind made the call after a BBC Panorama programme showed a culture of abuse at the NHS-run Edenfield Centre, in Manchester. More

Wait for answers Children in Scotland 'waiting more than a year for autism assessment. The health secretary has been urged to bring down waiting times and offer children and parents the support they need. More

TikTok - good or bad? "In some ways TikTok has helped drive discussions around autism forward, and shift outsiders’ perspectives. But for real progress, we have to ensure “swipe up” environments aren’t the only spaces where autistic people are welcomed." More

Spectrum Sailing “We’ve seen kids in the first day, building friendships, and working together which is great, but it also lets them feel valued and that they’re included” More

Opportunity on the menu A "friendly" Wirral café is giving autistic adults opportunities they "wouldn't have been allowed" in days gone by. More

Mixed media Despite finding increased representation of adults in the media, a study points out that news stories often depict such individuals in a childlike way. More

Missing help Parents who see their children miss out on therapy detailed in their education, health and care plan (EHCP) can challenge it in the courts. More

Bravo ‘Bruno’ An autistic boy says it is a "dream" to voice a new character on Thomas & Friends.
Elliott Garcia won the role to play Bruno the Brake Car, who will star alongside Thomas the Tank Engine as the show's first autistic engine. More

Art of the spectrum A 14-year-old autistic boy from Cape Town, South Africa has found solace in drawing pop culture characters in his own style. Clayden Botes's art and its incredible details have even made their way into a clothing line. More

Learning sensory style New from HelpKidzLearn, Inclusive Stories. Fun and engaging, animated sensory stories and resources specially designed to focus on a range of learning intentions, developmental areas, and topics relevant for learners with a wide range of educational needs. More

Spectrumley Speaking In this podcast, hosts Haley Moss and Dr. Lori Butts speak with Lauren Melissa Ellzey. Lauren Melissa Ellzey, or Autienelle, is an autistic self-advocate, social justice influencer, and fiction author. More

New vision “I am on the autism spectrum and society needs to rethink how they view people like me. For far too long, society’s views on people with autism have been discriminatory and damaging.” More

Left behind Parents of children with special educational needs say they are being left behind by the schooling system - with some still unsure if they will have a specialist place this September. The National Autistic Society says 70% of parents had to wait six months for their child's needs to be assessed, and half had to wait over a year. More

Helping hands Dr Sarah Lister Brook, Clinical Director at the National Autistic Society and Emma Gill, who has a four-year-old daughter, Sophie, diagnosed with autism, offer their tips for how to help you and your child. More

Dedicated to autism In Australia, by the start of next year, every public primary school will have a dedicated teacher onsite to support those with autism. More

Future farming Abby-Leigh Doig had finished studying a course in forensic psychology when a field full of cows set her off on a different career path. A group of heifers moved into the land behind her house in Fife, and before long she knew that she wanted to become a farmer. As a young autistic Muslim woman, it was hard for Abby-Leigh to find role models in the industry. More

Autism and  technology  Could robots in the classroom help autistic youngsters learn? More

Sensitive subject How do sound and light sensitivity affect autistic author, Allie? More

In hospital  Despite some progress moving people with autism out of long-stay hospitals, change is still too slow  More

On demand What exactly is ‘pathological demand avoidance’ in autism? More

Masking it A young woman has said her autism was not spotted until she was a teenager because of how differently it can present in girls and boys.
Olive McGuckian told the BBC she wanted wider society to understand girls are more likely to mask their symptoms. 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

Good to read A library boss has been awarded a British Empire Medal for making libraries more autism friendly. Sorrelle Clements is the Service Development Manager for Coventry Libraries and said "we're not just about books”. More

Makes sense Altnagelvin Hospital's new ED sensory room is an 'oasis of calm' for those with learning disabilities. More

Understanding autism The vast majority of school staff and leaders believe that autistic pupils’ education is being affected by a lack of teacher training in how to support them, a Tes poll suggests. More

Exercise boost  Regular exercise over several months can reduce anxiety in autistic children, a study has shown. Researchers confirmed the positive effect on autistic children who underwent a 16-week exercise programme at school. More

Health demands David Crisp (trainer, writer, advocate, blogger) suggests it's time to move forward for health equality for autistic individuals. More

A quiet space Many autistic people experience high levels of anxiety, which can become overwhelming and lead to what is often described as a “meltdown". Inspired by her autistic son
Bristol student, Angharad created Joey Pods with input from Bristol's autistic community as a response to the anxiety attacks her son, Joey, experiences. More

Great response The Life Science Centre in Newcastle has won an international award for its work with autistic communities. It worked for three years to increase staff's understanding of autism and neurodiversity and to make the building more accessible and welcoming. The centre is the first recipient of a Mariano Gago Responsible and Responsive Award, created to reflect the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. More

More in the Media Autistic adults have become increasingly visible in media, books, television, and more in the past decade, but challenges with representation persist. New research from UC Santa Cruz shows incremental improvements in the representation of autistic adults in film, television, books, media coverage, and advocacy organisation websites. More

Christine McGuinness is to front a BBC documentary about autism in women and girls after discovering her own ‘positive’ diagnosis. More

Learning about autism It's now the law! Measures to ensure all NHS staff receive training in learning disabilities and autism now have the full force of the law behind them. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Programme has received Royal ascent. It has now passed into law as part of the new Health and Care Act 2022. More 

Feeling different Carrie Kearns always knew she was different. From personal friendships to colleagues, the mum-of-two struggled to fit in throughout her life and considered herself a loner.
But that all changed earlier this year when she received a life-changing diagnosis of autism. More

Getting physical Why do autistic pupils engages less with PE at school? Durham University are doing new research in to the barriers that autistic young people can face when trying to access PE at school. More 

Health inside Children with autism spectrum disorder tend to experience gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation and stomach pain, at a higher rate than their neurotypical peers. The University of Missouri is trying to find out why. More 

Law change ‘Antiquated’ mental health laws in England and Wales are set for overhaul.
A Mental Health Bill aims to limit detentions of autistic people and those with learning disabilities. More 

Women waiting Research by Swansea University has found it takes on average six years longer to diagnose autism in women and girls than in males. Charities in Wales are calling for greater investment into services to help better understand autism in females and speed up a diagnosis. More

Strength on the spectrum Watch the World's strongest man, Tom Stoltman (who is autistic), pull a 5000 pound truck in this amazing video. More

Beating Burnout “If you knew me when I was younger, you would be really surprised to see me today. My autism went undiagnosed until I was in my 30s, so no one understood my struggles, including me”. More

Evidence problem Decisions about therapies and approaches to autism, including early intervention should be informed by research data. This raises a bit of a problem for educators and clinicians because there is a dearth of data when it comes to how to respond effectively to autism. More

Time to tell When Is there a best time to tell children they have the developmental disorder? New research suggests that younger is better. More

App for anxiety We have been following the Brain in Hand story since the beginning and this is great news. Brain in Hand has been given nearly £400,000 as part of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare award, which is funded by NHS England and NHS Improvement. More 

Crisis coping ‘How COVID hit our family - and how we navigated this period’. A parent’s account of the journey through the pandemic with her autistic son. More

Words from autistic women “Countless misconceptions about autism exist, particularly traits and experiences of autistic women. Motivated to raise understanding and acceptance of our experiences I decided to write an article.” More 

What's in a word? The autistic community hopes that a new terminology guide will help people use appropriate language when talking about autism. More

More Makaton The grandmother of a boy with autism who uses the language system Makaton to communicate with his family has called for it to be taught in more schools in Wales. 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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Big bill New legislation in Northern Ireland will introduce the creation of an autism information service and a cross-departmental autism training strategy. More

Help for hair A hair salon in Sheffield has created a specialised room to help autistic children get their hair cut in a less challenging environment. More

Cut it out Neurotypical nervous systems, wired for complex social lives, allow for effective sensory gating (automatically filtering out stimuli deemed unimportant - background noise). Autistic individuals have a harder time doing this. More

Kit full of understanding The North East Autism Society (NEAS) created the easy-to-follow Teacher’s Toolkit ahead of Autism Acceptance Week, which runs from March 28th until April 3rd.
The kit is packed full of educational videos, information about autism and neurodiversity, lesson plans and activity ideas designed to teach children and young people about difference. More

Autistic and Expecting Check out this unique and practical book on managing autistic pregnancy, childbirth and the post-natal period for autistic parents and for the health and social care practitioners who may support them. More

Explaining the spectrum “It is so important for my students to see that people with Asperger’s, autism or other communication issues can be successful and live fulfilling lives. Nothing explains this better than hearing it from them directly.” More

​Pathway to better lives Some of the world’s leading experts on autism have published a redesigned care pathway for autistic children and their families based on early detection and family involvement. More

Police aware Phillip Millichap, a police community support officer (PCSO) with autism is championing neurodiversity throughout his force. More

Positive pastures Farming can change the lives of young autistic people. A group of autistic young farm workers say the job has saved them from a potential life of isolation and boredom. More

​Deep look at sleep Ashura Buckley has been working to decode the meaning of brain activity that occurs during sleep. In November, she launched a project to assess the genetics, sleep and behavior of neurotypical children and those who have been flagged for, diagnosed with or have an older sibling with a neurodevelopmental condition, such as autism. More