Getting started
Understand the basics, then distinguish lived experience, reflection and professional assessment.
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KNOWLEDGE · EVERYDAY QUESTIONS · SUPPORT
Autism and Asperger’s: a place to start
Clear articles, research, books, films and support information for autistic people, families and the people around them.
Start with what you need
New to autism
Start with concepts and terminology, then explore your own questions.
- What is autism, and why does it look so different in different people?
- Asperger syndrome isn’t used as a diagnosis any more. What does that mean for me?
- Why am I always the one who has to change?
Understanding myself
Explore effort, relationships, work and your own experiences.
- Could I be autistic? What can a self-test tell me?
- Why am I so tired when I seemed perfectly at ease?
- Living your life while the difficulties are still there
Supporting my child
Look across your child’s day and connect support at home and school.
- Fine at school, falling apart at home
- My child is struggling. Where do I start?
- I’ve talked to the school so many times. Why hasn’t anything changed?
Supporting someone close
A starting point for partners, family, teachers and colleagues.
- “But you managed fine at work” — so why is there nothing left at home?
- We both want to get along. Why do we keep misunderstanding each other?
- I can do the job. So why is being at work so hard?
Explore the questions that matter
View all →Sensory needs & daily life
Explore sound, light and unexpected change, with ideas for environments and everyday plans.
Communication & friendship
Make expectations clearer, understand differences on both sides and find a workable social pace.
Stress, masking & recovery
Explore ongoing effort and masking, track changes and keep other health explanations open.
Children, family & school
Connect understanding at home with support at school, including the child’s own perspective.
Women & life stages
Explore later recognition, relationships, education and work while making room for individual differences.
Adult life, jobs & work
Consider interests, skills, environments and access needs together when preparing for work.
Relationships & self-understanding
Explore connection, interests and personal boundaries without losing sight of your own needs.
What research can tell us
View all →Read findings alongside the participants, methods and limitations.
Autism has been split into four types. Which one am I?
The four groups in the paper come out of a research model. You can’t use them to sort yourself or your child, choose treatment or predict the future.
Is it always easier to talk with people who are like you?
Getting the message across isn’t the same as feeling at ease. We look at two studies of adults, what they actually measured, and why a diagnosis can’t choose your friends for you.
Why are things I used to manage getting harder and harder?
When everyday things keep getting harder, you need to find out why and also take some of the load off. Research on burnout gives clues, but it’s no substitute for seeing a doctor.
Films and talks
View all →Sensory overload in a shopping centre
An official NAS film portrays sensory overload in a shopping centre. It contains intense sound and imagery; choose whether to watch according to your comfort.
Watch the complete film →Why can unexpected change be so difficult?
The official NAS film Diverted uses a public-transport scenario to portray the strain that unexpected changes can create.
Watch the complete film →Read further in books
View all →The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome
Look up questions about communication, sensory experience, school or work without needing to finish the whole book first.
Uniquely Human
Examples in the book can prompt questions about a child’s reluctance, repeated questions or distress and how to listen to them.
Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition
Choose chapters around recognition, education, work and relationships. The guide states exactly which material we have reviewed.
Asperger’s on the Job
Use this book to develop questions about job search and workplace misunderstandings, then check them against the actual role.