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Welcome to the Autability Blog
Here’s where we share our thoughts, insights, and experiences on all things autism and ADHD. From quick, practical reads to deeper, thought-provoking articles, we cover a wide range of topics that matter to neurodivergent individuals, their families, and the professionals who support them.
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How to help your autistic child learn new skills
Every autistic child has the ability to learn. What matters most is understanding how they learn and adapting our approach to suit their needs. Whether your child has an intellectual disability or not, they deserve learning methods that work with their strengths and support their challenges. If your autistic child does not have an intellectual disability, they likely have typical or above-average thinking skills. But they may still face difficulties with things like anxiety,
Jan 15


Supporting Your Autistic Child with an Intellectual Disability Making Sense of Sensory Challenges
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
Jan 12


Autism With & Without Intellectual Disability
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
Jan 5


All things have their place...
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
Nov 10, 2025


Why ABA is so damaging
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
Nov 5, 2025


ADHD Isn't Always Loud - Sometimes, It's Invisible
When most people think of ADHD, they picture high energy, impulsivity, or visible restlessness in the classroom. But for many students, especially those with inattentive or combined-type ADHD, the struggle looks very different. These students may appear quiet, hardworking, or even “model” pupils. They often go unnoticed because they spend so much energy trying to meet expectations, follow the rules, and avoid making mistakes. But behind the scenes, they’re masking enormous in
Oct 26, 2025


Why leaving a hyperfocus can feel impossible
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,
Oct 22, 2025


ADHD, Boredom & Challenging Behaviour
Many parents and teachers assume that children with ADHD struggle most when academic demands are too high. But there's a paradox that often catches families off guard: ADHD symptoms can get worse when a child isn't being challenged enough. Children with ADHD have neurological differences that affect their executive function, attention regulation, and impulse control. One aspect that's often misunderstood is that ADHD brains crave stimulation and novelty. When the environment
Oct 18, 2025


The link between ADHD, boredom & anxiety
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
Oct 15, 2025


Understanding Time Blindness in ADHD
If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, you may have experienced this scenario more than once: You remind them it’s time to leave for...
Oct 9, 2025


Understanding vs remembering when you have ADHD
For ADHD children, learning can be a challenge. But its not necessarily that they don't understand the topic. Very often, your child...
Oct 7, 2025


Helping Your ADHD Child Remember Daily Routines
It's October! Which means it's ADHD Awareness Month! We will be posting on areas often missed or not given as much attention as...
Oct 3, 2025


How a child might act when avoiding sensory overload
Have you ever noticed your child cover their ears during loud noises, refuse to wear certain clothes, or become distressed in busy places...
Sep 25, 2025


Understanding Sensory Seeking in Autistic Children: Why it Happens and How to Support It
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...
Sep 23, 2025


Sensory processing and mealtimes
Mealtimes can be one of the most challenging parts of the day for many families with autistic children. What’s often misunderstood is...
Sep 19, 2025


The role of stimming in sensory processing
Stimming (short for self-stimulatory behaviour) is something many autistic people do to help manage how they feel or how their body is...
Sep 15, 2025


Recognising the signs of sensory overload
Spotting the early signs of sensory overload can make all the difference. It gives you the chance to step in before things reach...
Sep 11, 2025


Why Teachers Need to Know About Sensory Profiles
When a child struggles in the classroom, their reactions can sometimes be misunderstood. A child covering their ears, refusing to join...
Aug 31, 2025


What does auditory processing disorder look like in a classroom?
Sometimes, what looks like inattention or even “bad behaviour” in class is something else entirely. Many autistic and ADHD children...
Aug 22, 2025


Is your child already stressed about going back to school?
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...
Aug 17, 2025


What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Understanding Auditory Processing Challenges in Your Autistic or ADHD Child When your child seems to ignore you, struggles to follow...
Aug 14, 2025
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