Autism and Disability Services

27/10/2025

Halloween tips from Autistic Girls Network...

24/10/2025

Go Asda.
Waitrose should hang their head in shame...

Tom Boyd's story has drawn national outrage after being told he 'couldn't do the full role' at the Cheadle Hulme store

12/10/2025

08/10/2025

The Autistic Advocate, Kieran Rose, has written some wonderful and thought provoking stuff.
I completed his training a couple of years ago and it was the best thing I ever did. It completely opened my eyes to many things and dispelled many incorrect theories that had been written before. Mostly written by non-autistic (allistic)/neurotypical academics, who were seen as the 'experts'.

It is a long article, but it is well worth reading and rereading...

In this article Kieran Rose discusses why language matters so much when it comes to conversations about Autism.

08/10/2025

05/10/2025

This is on tomorrow evening, probably worth a watch I should think...

Kellie Bright meets parents fighting for the right education for their autistic children.

04/10/2025

01/10/2025

We’re excited to share that the Barriers to Education website has officially launched: http://barrierstoeducation.co.uk

The Barriers to Education website has been created to bring parents, carers and professionals together with practical, compassionate approaches that make a real difference.

At its heart is the WARMTH Framework, alongside a growing library of tools, strategies and case studies that show what’s possible when we focus on understanding needs and creating conditions where young people feel safe, valued and able to thrive.

The website isn’t just here for you to read, but it is here for you to use as you see fit:
💛 Share it
Feel free to share this website with anyone who may not otherwise see it

🧡Use the content
We are very happy for any of the content to be added to your own existing (or new) documents or guidance.

💙Amend the content
We are very happy for you to use but also amend any wording so that it fits your Local Area or setting, the people within it and your current work and priorities.

💜Use it as a foundation
You are welcome to use any of the content we have shared as a foundation for your own local ideas, strategies, provision and interventions in your area or setting.

💚Share with us
If you are using any part of Barriers to Education, we would love to hear from you! Our vision for this website is for it to be a community owned, shared space where best practice, ideas and successes can be disseminated. Taking the time to share your resources, input or learning in our 'WARMTH in Practice' section could offer others (across the country) the chance to make a life changing difference to the young people that they are supporting.

We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the creation of the Barriers to Education website. Over 1,500 people contributed including young people, parents and carers, professionals across education, health and social care, researchers and more and it would not have been possible without you.

You can explore the site and join us in shaping it through the link in the comments.

30/09/2025

I talk to parents about this a lot as I have seen too many instances of adults backing children into corners.
The results of these power struggles are never positive, and things can escalate quite quickly if handled badly.

The infographic below sums things up really well I think.
Credit to

22/09/2025

Recent headlines have reported that President Trump has claimed paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen/Tylenol) use during pregnancy is “the cause of autism.”

Understandably, this has left many autistic people and parents worried. We want to be clear: there is no scientific evidence that paracetamol causes autism.

Major health bodies, including the NHS, Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, continue to recommend paracetamol as the safest first-line option for managing pain and fever during pregnancy. Untreated high fever, by contrast, can pose real risks to both parent and baby.

Misinformation can cause unnecessary fear. We encourage families to rely on trusted medical advice and remember. For the most up-to-date guidance on paracetamol usage in pregnancy please refer to the NHS website: https://f.mtr.cool/qdlzndnuch or consult with your GP/pharmacist.

We understand this kind of news can be distressing to families with disabled and/or autistic children. Remember, our Listening Ear service is here for you - book a 1-to-1 appointment with one of our family advicers on our website here: contact.org.uk/listening-ear