Social Stories for Transitions: Making Changes Easier
A simple change in routine or plan can be challenging for both children and adults. Transitioning from one location to another, leaving the playground, or switching a school subject can all trigger unexpected emotional outbursts. For autistic children, or children with ADHD and learning disabilities, unexpected events can lead to emotional storms that may have […]
How to Write a Social Story
Social stories have shown impressive results in supporting communication for autistic children and adults. Whether you are a family member, a carer, or an education assistant, social stories can be an invaluable support in everyday activities. From brushing teeth to enjoying a favourite hobby or making friends, social stories are reliable tools to guide and […]
ADHD and Anxiety: Overlap and Key Differences
Everything we do is guided by the brain – shaping how we learn, how we stay organised, and how we connect with others. With ADHD, these everyday things can feel overwhelming: keeping track of schoolwork, arriving on time, or maintaining friendships can become a struggle. We can look at a huge potential which is somehow […]
ADHD and Autism: Key Differences and Similarities
Definitions and assumptions about ADHD and autism can sometimes create confusion, especially when it comes to how they relate to one another. It might surprise some to learn that these two neurodevelopmental differences can occur together, even though certain traits may seem to point in opposite directions. For example, autistic people often value routine and […]
How to Reduce Anxiety in Autistic Adults
What is anxiety? It’s when you feel your body trembling, and heart racing yet for no obvious reason. It’s when a simple change in plans fills your body with distress. It’s when being in a room full of people makes you feel overwhelmed, scared and ready to run. It’s when getting too much or too […]
Difference Between Autistic Meltdown and Autistic Shutdown
Autistic meltdown or shutdown occurs when autistic people become overwhelmed by sensory input. For autistic people, meltdowns and shutdowns are not something they choose – they’re instinctive reactions to being overwhelmed. A meltdown might look like shouting, crying, or other intense outward expressions of distress. A shutdown, on the other hand, can mean going quiet, […]
Autistic Meltdown: Triggers and Support
Many people can experience anxiety or intense emotions in specific situations triggered by a number of reasons. When feeling completely overwhelmed, people might find it difficult to regulate emotions, leading to intense response or loss of control. For autistic people, an overwhelming situation or stressful stimuli may lead to even more intense uncontrollable responses, and […]
Learning Disability Week – A Word with Ashleigh Fox, a Transforming Care Director, RNLD and Neurodiversity advocate
Learning Disability Week is always a time for reflection, but this year’s theme – “Do You See Me?” – hits deeper than most. For those who work alongside people with learning disabilities every day, this question isn’t rhetorical. It’s a challenge. A reminder. A responsibility. The work of learning disability nurses is often behind the […]
Anxiety in Autism: Understanding the Connection
Anxiety has become an inevitable part of life in today’s world. Whether it’s triggered by stress or sudden, unexpected change, most of us recognise that physical response – tension, racing thoughts, or a body on edge. The relationship between autism and anxiety is even stronger. While around 10–15% of the general population experience an anxiety […]
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Key Takeaways In a world where verbal communication becomes more challenging every day, there is a huge need for an effective functional communication system. Over the past couple of years, the number of children needing additional support in speech development has tripled and is expected to rise. That’s why we have implemented innovative augmentative and […]
