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When your child has both autism and an intellectual disability, it can be harder to spot sensory needs, especially if they struggle to explain what they’re feeling. But their body still reacts. Your job (and we know it’s a big one) is to become a bit of a detective. Start by looking for patterns. Do meltdowns happen in certain shops? After specific meals? When wearing certain clothes? Even subtle things like lighting or background noise can tip things over the edge. Taking sh

This month, we’re exploring what it means to be autistic both with and without an intellectual disability. There’s often a lot of confusion around how autism and intellectual disability relate to each other. It’s important to know that they are two separate conditions. A person can have one without the other — or they can have both. Autistic children without an intellectual disability usually have average or above-average thinking and learning abilities. This means they’re of

This time of year, magazines are bursting with ideas for the "perfect" Christmas lunch. While these glossy spreads might be inspiring, they’re often unrealistic for many families. So we have created a simple plan to help you get the most from the big meal on the big day! 1. Design a Menu That Works for Your Family There’s no rulebook for Christmas dinner. Whether it’s chicken nuggets and chips or a traditional roast with all the trimmings, the most important thing is serving

Reposting a hugely popular post from last year. ️  Most children are fortunate enough to receive far more Christmas gifts than they need. For many children an enormous mountain of Christmas presents that they can rip open is the most exciting thing possible. For many autistic children it is terrifying. As we mentioned in an earlier post give them GIFT TIME SPACE, but it can also be helpful to space out gifts over the day or even days and weeks.  This is a fantastic strategy

Advent calendars are a much bigger phenomenon than they used to be. They can be a fantastic tool to help your child count down to Christmas - it is probably one of the only occasions when parents of autistic children can purchase a standard product as a visual cue! That said, they can still be a trigger for overwhelm. At 19, my son still gets as excited by the prospect of an advent calendar as he does by a Christmas present. Whilst it can be tempting to get an exciting advent

According to the song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but for me, Christmas has always been a mix of excitement and challenge. From October onwards, I love preparing for the season—choosing and making meaningful gifts, poring over festive recipes, and planning a show-stopping dessert for the big day. But when it comes to the actual days of Christmas, I’ve always found them difficult.  For me, Christmas feels unpredictable, overwhelming, and full of "enforced fun.

As Christmas approaches, we will be re sharing some posts from the last few years on how to prepare and support your child through the holiday festive season. We are kicking things off with this one! It's getting to the time of year where there are festive decorations and lights covering the streets. I have to admit I crave the visual stimulation of certain Christmas lights and last year enjoyed three outings to various nearby Christmas light trails. I can still visualise som

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) was once considered the "gold standard" “treatment” for autism, but many autistic adults and advocates argue it causes significant psychological harm. This is especially true given how autism cannot and does not need to be treated at all. ABA's main goal is to make autistic children appear "normal" by stopping natural autistic behaviours like stimming, and teaching them to behave like neurotypicals. This teaches autistic children that their na

When your child is deep in hyperfocus, whether it's playing a favourite game, researching a subject of interest or watching a TV programme, encouraging them to change focus can feel impossible. Hyperfocus isn't just "being really into something." For ADHD brains, it's an intense state where their attention locks on, and shifting gears requires genuine neurological effort. Abruptly interrupting can trigger meltdowns, tears, or anger. This is not because they're being defiant,

If your child with ADHD seems more anxious, fidgety, or emotional when they're bored rather than busy, you're not imagining it. Under stimulation can trigger real anxiety in children (and adults) with ADHD. Think of the ADHD brain like a car engine that needs to run at a certain speed to work smoothly. When there's not enough happening—during repetitive homework, waiting in line, or sitting through easy lessons—the engine starts sputtering. This creates an uncomfortable, rest

Have you ever noticed your child cover their ears during loud noises, refuse to wear certain clothes, or become distressed in busy places...

If your child frequently jumps, spins, climbs, or crashes into things, it can be hard to know what’s going on – especially if they don’t...

Mealtimes can be one of the most challenging parts of the day for many families with autistic children. What’s often misunderstood is...

Stimming (short for self-stimulatory behaviour) is something many autistic people do to help manage how they feel or how their body is...

When your child struggles to understand spoken instructions, everyday life can feel like a constant uphill battle, not just for them, but...

Sometimes, what looks like inattention or even “bad behaviour” in class is something else entirely. Many autistic and ADHD children...

You’re not imagining it, and they’re not being dramatic. For many autistic and ADHD kids, the anxiety starts weeks before the first bell...

Understanding Auditory Processing Challenges in Your Autistic or ADHD Child When your child seems to ignore you, struggles to follow...

As September approaches, it’s tempting to focus on the practical side of getting ready for school, with new pens, fresh notebooks, and...

Recently, I have been looking back over some reports written about my son. I came across one that angered me as much today as it did 16...

Learn why autistic/ADHD pupils struggle in secondary school.