This practical guide helps you communicate more effectively with autistic people. It explains common differences, such as literal interpretation, directness, and the need for processing time. Discover actionable tips with real-world examples, from using clear language to being patient, helping you bridge communication gaps and have more respectful and successful interactions with them.

This article details the common challenges faced by autistic people, emphasising that these vary across the spectrum. It explores difficulties in social communication, sensory processing, executive functioning, and managing change. For each area, it offers practical ways that non-autistic people can provide effective support, aiming to foster greater empathy and a more inclusive society.

This article explores common conditions that co-occur with autism, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and learning disabilities. It explains why autistic people can be more vulnerable due to chronic stress, masking, and sensory overload. Learn how these conditions present, the challenges of diagnosis, and practical ways to provide effective, tailored support for a person's complete well-being.

This practical guide offers actionable strategies for anyone supporting autistic people. Learn to communicate effectively by being clear, direct, and patient, and using visual aids. It covers creating supportive environments by respecting sensory needs and routines, and breaking down tasks. The key is to ask about a person's needs, fostering greater understanding and accessibility.

We all know how vital effective communication is for people with autism and other neurodivergences. When speech or understanding is limited, or when processing information is challenging, it can lead to frustration, anxiety, and a sense of being misunderstood or unheard. Finding Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) methods that truly empower a person is a cornerstone of good support - and here we'll explain 'Talking Mats', which for many has been life-changing.

This empowering guide offers autistic people a toolkit of practical self-management strategies. Starting with self-awareness, learn to manage sensory overload with sensory tools and breaks. It covers techniques for coping with anxiety, supporting executive functioning with planners and checklists, and navigating social situations by managing your energy to build a more fulfilling life.

How do you make an effective Sensory Rescue Pack for an Autistic child or adult? By understanding the point of these packs, you will be able to choose items that help regulate sensory input, reduce anxiety, and promote calm in overwhelming environments. Find out where to start and what to include (with practical examples, price guides, and buying advice). See how to create a personalised, life-changing pack that promotes self-regulation to help autistic people navigate life with confidence.

This empowering guide helps you develop self-advocacy skills to speak up for your needs and rights. Starting with self-awareness of your unique profile, learn to communicate clearly, set boundaries, and understand your rights regarding reasonable adjustments. It offers practical tips for preparing for important conversations, helping you to build confidence and create a more fulfilling life.

This guide is for anyone who wants to be an effective ally to someone who's autistic. It emphasises the principle of "Nothing About Us Without Us", stressing the importance of listening to and amplifying their voices and choices. Learn practical ways to be supportive, from educating yourself, to challenging stigma, to adapting your communication style. Discover how to advocate respectfully, always guided by the person's wishes, to help build a more inclusive and accepting world.

This practical guide helps families create an autism-friendly home that feels like a sanctuary for their autistic family member. Learn to manage the sensory environment by adjusting lighting, reducing visual clutter, and minimising noise to prevent overload. Discover the importance of organisation and visual schedules to create calming predictability, and setting up a dedicated "safe space" to reduce stress, all contributing to a more harmonious home for everyone.

This practical guide shows businesses, clubs and other organisations how to create autism-friendly spaces. It explains how sensory overload and unpredictability can be major barriers for autistic people. Discover practical adjustments like offering "quiet hours", providing information online, setting up calm zones, and conducting staff training. These thoughtful changes promote inclusion, making your space more welcoming for autistic people and the entire community.

This practical guide explains how autistic people can request reasonable adjustments in a range of settings, from education and healthcare to local authorities and public services to help make life easier and less stressful. Learn to identify your needs and ask for adjustments (like a quiet room or clearer communication) along with examples of who to approach and what to say to ensure you're treated fairly, kindly and equally.

This practical guide helps neurotypical people communicate more effectively with autistic adults. Learn to be clear, direct, and patient, allowing for processing time and using active listening to ensure understanding. It provides a two-way guide to non-verbal cues: how to interpret an autistic person's communication style without assumption, and how to use your own gestures and tone supportively. These adjustments build stronger, more respectful connections by bridging communication gaps.

This is a practical guide to conducting person-centred reviews (PCRs) for autistic people in care settings. It details the process, starting with the preparation you need to do, including what to include in the review pack, and then structuring the meeting and creating an action plan afterward. It aims to helps professionals and families alike to conduct more empowering reviews that keep the person's voice central to all decisions about their care and support.

This article provides educators with practical strategies to create sensory-friendly classrooms for autistic students. It suggests minimising visual clutter, using calming colours, and organising displays. For auditory sensitivities, it recommends reducing noise, providing quiet zones or headphones, and minimising sudden loud sounds. It also addresses tactile, olfactory, and movement sensitivities, offering solutions like varied seating, fidget tools, avoiding strong scents, and incorporating movement breaks, all to reduce anxiety and improve learning.

This article for carers and the families of autistic people explains the process of person-centred care planning, outlining the key principles and elements of a compassionate support plan. It provides a step-by-step guide to conducting meaningful care plan reviews and annual Person-Centred Reviews (PCRs). Learn how to create truly empowering care plans that ensure the person's 'voice and choice' remains central to all decisions about their care.

This article introduces Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations, which are visual tools to help autistic people understand situations and social interactions. It explains their structure, how they clarify social situations and emotions, and provides guidance for making up these 'leading by example' stories, which help improve social understanding, reduce anxiety, acquire new skills, increase independence, and make communication easier.

Navigating the world of political engagement is a right for everyone, including autistic people. Here we provide you with the know-how to help them engage safely and respectfully in politics. Learn how to gently teach critical thinking and media literacy, empowering the people you support to form their own informed opinions. We also cover the skills you need to recognise potentially harmful influences, such as extremism or radicalisation, and we explain step-by-step how to know, what to do, and when to get involved if there's a problem. Use our clear, compassionate, and practical guidance to safeguard people while still respecting their rights and autonomy.

This article explains why transitions, both big and small, are challenging for autistic people, causing anxiety and distress due to their need for predictability and routine. It offers practical strategies for educators, includes providing clear, timely, and specific information, utilising visual aids and social stories, breaking transitions down into smaller steps, practising new routines, and providing familiar comfort items in the classroom.

This article explores how executive functions like planning, organisation and decision-making can differ for autistic people, affecting their daily life, education, and work. It provides strategies for autistic people, such as using checklists and visual timers, as well as for those who support them, like breaking down instructions and providing clear routines. This guidance will help you encourage their independence and greatly reduce their anxiety in everyday life.