When it comes to sharing an autism diagnosis with your child, you don’t need the perfect words. What matters most is how the message is shared - with warmth, positivity, and curiosity. Use positive, affirming language Help them understand that being autistic means their brain sees, feels, and processes the world in unique ways. Often, young children connect most easily with their autistic neurotype when conversations begin with their strengths, interests, and personal qualities. These...

Our understanding of autism has changed dramatically in recent years. Once thought of as a condition or disorder that impacted a person in terms of what they can’t do, autism is now recognised as it’s own neurotype, a natural variation in how brains process and engage in the world around them. So why are there so many more autistic people being diagnosed? For the same reason there seem to be so many more stars in the sky since we invented telescopes. The stars were always there. We simply...

While it might feel gentler to speak only about a child’s individual traits without naming autism directly, doing so can unintentionally leave a child without the broader framework needed to truly understand themselves. Autism is not simply a disconnected collection of traits, quirks, or challenges. It is a neurotype that shapes the way a person experiences the world. When children are supported to understand their autistic neurotype, it allows them to make sense of their experiences in a...