Effective autism-informed mental health support often looks different from what people expect. It is not about fitting a child into a traditional therapy model, but about creating an environment and approach that works for them. Support should take place in predictable, low-demand environments where a child feels safe and not overwhelmed. Communication should be clear, explicit and direct, avoiding metaphors or vague language that can cause confusion or anxiety. Therapy should be built around...

If you’ve been researching communication strategies for your autistic child, you may have come across the term Total Communication (TC). At first, the idea sounds very positive. Total Communication encourages people to use lots of different ways to communicate at the same time — speech, sign language, pictures, gestures, facial expressions and AAC devices. The thinking seems logical: if we give a child more communication options, they will have more chances to understand and respond. However,...

Families navigating SEND often come across terms that can appear complicated or intimidating. Terms such as severe, complex, and profound are commonly used in professional reports and policy documents, whereas autism and ADHD are often described differently, even when support needs are significant. Understanding what these terms mean can help parents tackle the SEND system with more confidence and less anxiety. Severe Needs Within SEND, 'severe' indicates a very high level of need and support...