This guide explains how to find local autism support services throughout England, covering statutory routes via the NHS and local councils, such as diagnosis and EHC plans (EHCPs). It also highlights the various voluntary groups that are there to help you, as well as advocacy support. Autistic people and their families will discover a clear roadmap for accessing care, understanding their rights, and building a strong support network.

This practical guide explains how to create an Autism Hospital Passport, a vital tool for improving healthcare experiences. It details how the passport communicates your unique needs-like sensory sensitivities and communication preferences-to medical staff. Learn how to use our free online tool to prepare your hospital passport before you need it, ensuring safer, more person-centred care that leaves you relaxed and happy.

This practical guide helps autistic people in the UK navigate the benefits system. It explains how to apply for key disability benefits by linking autistic traits to official criteria for daily living and mobility needs. Learn how to complete forms effectively, gather strong evidence, prepare for assessments, and what to do if your claim is denied.

This practical guide helps educators and parents support autistic students to thrive, not just survive. It outlines their unique strengths and common challenges, from sensory sensitivities to social interaction. Discover key strategies for creating an inclusive environment, including using visual aids, clear communication, and sensory adjustments, all underpinned by strong collaboration and formal support plans like EHCPs.

This article clearly explains the common co-occurrence of autism and ADHD. It explores where symptoms overlap, such as in executive functioning, and key differences in areas like social motivation and the need for routine. Learn about the unique "push-and-pull" experience of having both conditions and discover integrated support strategies that address this complex neurotype.

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.

In a world where traditional communication can feel exhausting, new digital tools are transforming how we connect. Here we explore the daily barriers faced by neurodiverse people, highlighting how apps such as 'Relate' provide simple non-verbal signals to bridge social gaps and prevent misunderstandings. We explain the Double Empathy Problem and offer a simple, practical strategy for reducing conflict, and making more supportive environments in homes, social spaces, workplaces, and schools.

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.

Rejection sensitivity is a profound neurological and emotional response characterised by intense pain triggered by perceived exclusion or criticism. In autistic people, this common vulnerability is driven by heightened amygdala reactivity and the trauma of constant social masking. The resulting distress causes chronic anxiety, extreme people-pleasing, or complete social withdrawal. To provide meaningful support, we must move beyond demanding resilience and instead minimise ambiguity with explicit communication and objective, actionable feedback. Normalising 'mistakes' and offering calm co-regulation during these times of distress helps the person know that their value remains entirely secure, always.

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.