A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
There has been increasing awareness recently that many girls on the autism spectrum are overlooked until much later in life, which can be the source of confusion and distress for the girls themselves and those who care for them. The reason behind this has been rightfully attributed to girls with autism presenting differently to a [...]
Detailing some of the key points from the book What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew, this article covers some of the challenges most commonly experienced by girls with autism and how parental support can help them to meet these challenges. The advice is collated from members of the Autism Women's Network, who relate [...]
Thirty years ago it was rare for a student with ASD to enter college. But over the past decades, there has been much improvement in the detection and awareness of ASD in children. Now, with the provision of effective treatments, those with average or above average intellectual abilities are enrolling at universities. However, college presents [...]
Parents often notice the first signs of autism in their children at around 12 to 18 months. Maybe a child isn’t making eye contact, or won’t smile when mom or dad walks in the door. But a new study suggests there is evidence of autism in the brain even earlier—well before a child’s first birthday—and [...]
Pixabay Images For children on the autism spectrum, very early social skills training, preferably before school age, can have a major impact on later development. But a lot of kids are missing that crucial intervention. For many, it’s not because they’re not getting diagnosed—it’s because they’re getting a different diagnosis first. Often, it’s [...]
Flickr Images Scientists say they have established the first successful treatment for autism, after training parents in how best to respond to the needs of children with the condition. The study, published in The Lancet, found “striking” and “remarkable” long-term changes after toddlers were enrolled in intensive communication programmes, which aimed to coax them [...]
Flickr Images Last year, in my late 40s, I was diagnosed with autism. I’ve always known I was different, and sought a formal diagnosis after the traits I’ve lived with for almost five decades became progressively more difficult to manage. I’m certainly not the only woman who has had to wait a long [...]
Flikr Images There is a persistent stereotype that people with autism are individuals who lack empathy and cannot understand emotion. It’s true that many people with autism don’t show emotion in ways that people without the condition would recognise1. But the notion that people with autism generally lack empathy and cannot recognize feelings [...]
