Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference.  It affects the development of the brain and affects how a person communicates and interacts with others, how information is processed, and how they make sense of the world.

The human population is highly diverse.  Neurodiversity is a term that describes this normal variation across all people. Within the autistic population there is also a great deal of diversity and autism manifests differently from person to person.

For children and young people, there is a reciprocal relationship between the autistic learner and the environment – this includes the physical environment and the people around them. With appropriate understanding and adjustments, autistic people can flourish.

We often work with schools to support learners with autism both individually, in our casework, and through training and development work.  We sometimes refer to these resources with colleagues in school and hope you find them helpful.

The Autism Toolbox is a free online resource developed to support the inclusion of autistic learners in Scottish Early Learning and Childcare settings, Primary and Secondary schools.

Making Sense of Sensory Behaviour by Falkirk Council can help you understand a learner’s sensory needs and what strategies and approaches might meet those needs.

Comic Strip Conversations can help an adult understand a learner with autism’s perspective and help teach social understanding and communication skills

The Incredible 5 Point Scale can be used to support communication with an individual with autism and help develop self-regulation

Within Angus we also have the Angus Autism Strategy which summarises what supports and services people with Autism and their families’ value and wish to be developed further within Angus.