Through An Autistic Eye Autistic photographer inspires other young people with special needs to take photos as he prepares to publish debut book  More 

Life in lockdown A mother and son have written an illustrated book during lockdown to help explain autism to others. More

Sounds different Unlike typical toddlers, those with autism may tend not to share experiences involving sound — dancing to music with their parents, for example, or directing a parent’s attention toward a cat’s meow — according to a new study More

Good read Get hold of Sarah Kurchak's ‘autiebiography’ (an autobiography written by an autistic person) which, though it may not reflect the experiences of everyone on the spectrum, is sure to resonate with many More

Getting in the door Being diagnosed with autism at the age of 33 was a watershed moment for Josh McKeiver. - "That was a huge relief. I cried. I'd never cried so much in my life, over days." Employment however is another hurdle. More

Care changes needed Too many people with learning disabilities or autism are receiving "undignified and inhumane care" in specialist hospitals, a care regulator has found. More

Autism in the family "What [autism] means for us, in my family, is that we experience external stimuli as blasts of information. When we are out in public, the smells, the sights, the sounds and the people can all merge together and become completely overwhelming." More

Asthma and autism? In the United States, children with autism or other developmental disabilities are at least twice as likely to have asthma as their typically developing peers are, according to a new study More

Ability awareness Listen to Francesca Happé talking to Jim al-Khalili about the abilities of people with autism More

Education frustration Children across the county are now returning to the classrooms following lockdown and summer holidays but it seems that for many autistic youngsters the right provision is not in place More

Word on the street Five years after “Sesame Street” put its focus on autism, new research suggests the show’s materials are helping to change minds More

Diagnostic difficulties What would make screening and diagnosing autism more accurate? A new study found it could be something as simple as listening to parents! More

Jobs to help cure loneliness "It is estimated that 90% of adults on the autism spectrum are unemployed. You might ask, “How could that be?” The answer involves a complex, systemic set of issues, but the reality is clear. Given how hard it has been for us to live life socially isolated since mid-March, I ask you: How would you like to do that for the rest of your life?" More

Autism and gender diversity Autistic people are more likely than neurotypical people to be gender diverse, several studies show, and gender-diverse people are more likely to have autism More

Back to the future An autism support charity As I Am has produced a useful booklet – Bridge Back to School – to help with transition and the difficult re-entry to school for autistic youngsters More

Right person right job support Mark (autism and ADHD) speaks out about his experiences in the workplace and how a charity helped him find a job right for him More

Food and the spectrum Eating disorders in autistic people are poorly understood, but they tend to be more severe and long-lasting. What, if any, is the link? More

Where's the support? More than a quarter of English councils are acting unlawfully by discriminating against children with autism, according to a report by disability law experts More

Don't forget us People with learning disabilities in Oxfordshire say they feel forgotten by the Government when it comes to coronavirus COVID-19. Members of the Oxfordshire self-advocacy charity, My Life My Choice say they feel abandoned. More

Me too The founder of a charity for autistic children and their families is celebrating her own autism diagnosis at age 48. Rachel started Autism Camp Australia to support and provide respite for the families of young autistic people after her daughter was diagnosed at the age seven More

Including me “We can have a diverse workplace, but unless you really have inclusion, meaningful inclusion, where people feel they are welcomed in the workplace, they have a stake in the work, it’s really difficult to retain a qualified workforce.” More

Moving story Most autistic people — 87 percent, according to the latest estimate — have some sort of motor difference or difficulty, ranging from an unusual gait to frustrations with handwriting. So what does the science say? More

Wild passion "My career as a wildlife photographer was born out of my obsession with animals. As a kid, I would spend hours watching documentaries, reading my animal encyclopaedia or researching online" More

Making it as an autistic adult Listen to a podcast “‘Living in Uncertain Times: Coping Strategies for Adults on the Autism Spectrum” with Stephen Shore More

How to 'see' autism Interview with Temple Grandin: Autism, genetics and "nature versus nurture" More

That's quality What is 'quality of life' for autistic people? It should be defined by autistic people themselves, surely? Thats what the WHO says. How to improve it? Now there's a question More

Getting it wrong Anne Hegerty reveals the biggest misconceptions about autism More

​Canine question Do therapy dogs  help children struggling with social communication? More

Autism, community and Covid-19 “I have to say hello to people,” Ramírez said. “And I have like a certain number, like 30 people, I have to say hello. And so when I'm walking around, I do that with my neighbors. So everybody thinks that I'm really sociable, but I'm actually very introverted. I'm actually really shy.” More

Living the science Growing ranks of researchers on the spectrum are overcoming barriers—from neurotypical bias to sensory sensitivities—to shape autism science More

Mind works School-based mindfulness programs can improve decision-making skills and teach children with autism to focus attention More

Not knowing "I wasn’t diagnosed with Asperger’s until I was about 23 years old and I wish I’d known about it sooner". More

Research needs you University of York researchers need your help with a project looking at experiences of bullying in childhood in autistic adults. More
... why not explore the topic of the role of the autistic voice in research a little further? More

Safe schooling Are schools able to offer safe and suitable provision for autistic children on an individual basis during 'lockdown'? More

Virtual understanding US law enforcement professionals are utilising virtual reality to gain insight into autistic experience. More

Distraction reaction Autistic people may have trouble tuning out distractions. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh believe this may account for some of the problems with sensory sensitivity and sensory processing experienced by individuals on the spectrum. More

Wired for success Auticon, an  IT company, sees the benefits of having a majority-autistic workforce. "Our hybrid onsite and offsite teams utilise the cognitive benefits of autism to provide the sustained concentration and analytical mindset that makes us wired for success". More

Autism advocate In 2017, Daisy Shearer, then a 21-year-old physics major at the University of Surrey in the UK, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In retrospect, the diagnosis made sense. It explained the sensory overload and panic attacks during exams, for example, and the trouble she had maintaining friendships. More

Lockdown life Robyn Steward and Jamie Knight, presenters of the podcast '1800 Seconds on Autism', reveal what’s been going on in their lives during lockdown. From the pasta dish Jamie has eaten every day for five years no longer being available at the supermarket, through to Robyn’s solo trip to hospital, a notoriously noisy and discombobulating place.  More

Eating and autism Is there a relationship between eating disorders and autism? Children with autistic traits are more likely than their peers to develop an eating disorder, according to a new UCL-led study. More

Siblings stick together Why not sign up for a free siblings webinar? Siblings, parents, and other caregivers can participate in this series, which will be the 2nd Tuesday each month. Next one is June 9th. More

We're hiring. Badly! Read about William's experiences of interviews (and what's wrong with the way most firms do them). A great insight into how autistic job seekers are discriminated against. More

That's right "The rights of persons with autism must be taken into account in efforts to address the COVID-19 coronavirus", UN Secretary-General More

Family and autism "When my son was diagnosed, I was told the condition was hereditary. Suddenly my late mother’s ‘eccentric, bossy’ personality began to make sense" More

Diagnosing 'different' Two women explain the reality of going through life feeling 'different' to their peers but without anyone ever being able to explain why More

Quality improvement required Autistic children and adults report poor physical and mental health and quality of life compared with the general population, according to a new survey More

Finding a different 'normal' "I have been spending so much time trying to force him to be 'normal' — to follow the standard milestones for child development. It never occurred to me to think he was autistic. A month ago I didn’t even really know what that meant." Read one mother's story More

Coping with confinement 11-year-old Elliott gives other autistic kids his lockdown tips More

Trouble with transition Autistic young people  in transition  are more likely to have active medical needs and require a healthcare team that is familiar with autism More

Time to talk When Meta Auden realised her daughter disliked certain fabrics and zips, she began to make bespoke items — and ended up launching her own firm. Talking to her teen during this crisis has also given her invaluable tips for parents More

What planet? The world has lost a great autism advocate, writer and all round wit. PJ Hughes will be sadly missed. Celebrate his life with the book Me and Planet Weirdo More

Big noise A new study may explain why people with autism are often highly sensitive to light and noise. More

Diagnosis and me ​"My rule-following autistic brain wouldn’t allow me to think of myself as really autistic until someone officially diagnosed me as such" More

Stop with the stereotyping These days, it seems fashionable to speculate about whether or not someone is on the autistic spectrum. Is this acceptable? More

Socially speaking A number of myths about autistic people abound. It's a great myth that autistic people lack empathy. However, the more you get to know an autistic person, the more you realise just how caring they can be. More

That's accepted We are approaching April, Autism Awareness Month.  Please do not be fooled. Awareness is not the same as acceptance and inclusion. More

Guide to 'me' When Dr Camilla Pang was eight, she asked her mum if there was an instruction manual on how to be a human. She was sick of getting things 'wrong' and being told that her behaviour wasn’t 'normal'. She wanted, above everything, to feel like she fitted in. More

Drawing on autism A teenage autistic author published her new comic to show those with autism they are not alone More

Describing different For artist and writer Charlotte Amelia Poe, 30, every day feels like a walk across a frozen pond. “It’s how it’s always been,” she explains. “You’re trying to navigate it and stay safe, but you’re aware that at any moment the ice is likely to crack, and at that point you will sink into the water.” More

Times of trouble With the current covid19 virus spreading anxiety and uncertainty in the autism community, why not send this newsletter to someone who might just need some positivity right now. Subscription link

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

Good guidance This quick guide, which is based on research evidence, supports social workers to work with each person to develop a personalised plan, based on an accurate picture of their strengths, wishes and needs, including any sensory differences. More

Questioning PANDAS Some scientists say an immune condition called PANDAS affects as many as 1 in 200 children who have traits similar to those of autism. But many experts contest that figure — and even the condition’s very existence. More

Autism into adulthood A recent study explored the experiences of a number of late-diagnosed adults, who reported feeling alien and isolated, and who were aware of not fitting in (without understanding why) before they were identified as autistic. More

Don't use B-Word "For a while it was the word “autism” itself, or as I liked to call it “the A-word.” I was afraid of what I didn’t understand, so I preferred we not speak the word at all". More

Why the wait? Children are still waiting far too long for a diagnosis and their families are left unsupported during the wait for up to three years. More

One Mums' List Kacie learned five important lessons for her daughter, partner and family. She'd like to pass them on. More

Future's bright So often it's autistic individuals who, with their passion, determination and thinking differences are taking on the challenge of securing the planet's future. Dirk van Meer, a student at Eindhoven University of Technology and is leading a project on recovering metals normally lost to landfill. More

Sensory clues Studies of the sensory system could provide unique insight into brain differences in autism More

Damaging wait New data suggests some NHS patients thought to have autism waited over 19 weeks for their first mental health appointments. Patients at 10 out of 25 English health trusts waited an average of 137 days or more following referral, against a target of 91 days, in spring 2018. More

Funny thing about autism Comedian Joe Wells talks about the one time in his life that making eye contact with another human being wasn't uncomfortable. Recently diagnosed as autistic, he also explains why he has to block out men's voices by playing loud music in his headphones.More

Get visual People on the autism spectrum sometimes learn best using visual supports rather than through auditory input alone. Being 'shown' instead of 'told', helps the person retain and process information. More

Autism, art and achievement Five years ago, Kitty Kaur was diagnosed with autism. She said she had been struggling to cope with "the outside world" but found creating art made her feel she could achieve anything. More

Thinking differently "People don’t often understand our choices and decisions. Often we make different choices than parents with children who don’t have disabilities. We shouldn’t need to justify our decisions to someone else" Read Calleen's take on family life. More

Asking autism Kathy Divine describes herself as a “visionpreneuer” who shares a positive vision for global ethical leadership through her writing and books. On top of that, she’s a qualified dog massage therapist, a coach for aspiring authors and a keen drummer. More

Give the gift of the year Stuck for what to get someone? Why not sign them up for this newsletter? A year of news and views from the world of autism. Amazing. More