Discover

ADHD, ASC & LD Belgium is a non-profit support organisation run entirely by volunteers, providing support, evidence-based information and resources for the English, Dutch and French speaking people in Belgium. Including, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the Autism Spectrum (ASC) and Learning Differences, such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)

https://www.ADHD-edu.be

Chris Packham, autistic naturalist and TV presenter. Radio Times article:

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/chris-packham-reveals-the-reality-of-living-with-aspergers-and-his-romantic-plan-to-be-reunited-with-his-dogs-after-he-dies/

How to be a good autism ally:

https://childrenscampusgreenville.com/blog/how-to-be-an-ally-during-autism-awareness-month/

Society for Neurodiversity (S4ND)

A recently created online UK organisation and community of neurodiverse or neurodivergent people. Has a wonderful mission statement. Become a member for free to access services, groups of interest, online events, support and networks. Also open to English speakers abroad:

https://www.s4nd.org

The Royal Circle of Autism

‘Outpourings of an autistic mum to three kids all on that glorious spectrum, that the middle one renamed The Royal Circle of Autism!’

https://royalcircleofautism.wordpress.com

The specific needs of autistic people when going to hospital:

https://www.aspiehelp.com/going-to-hospital.html

Erin McKinney discusses ways to help autistic people calm themselves:

https://themighty.com/2016/08/how-i-calm-myself-down-as-a-person-on-the-autism-spectrum/

Laura James, author of Odd Girl Out, talks about her late diagnosis of autism as an adult with hEDS:

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/02/health/autism-women-laura-james/index.html

The need to embrace autism and neurodiversity:

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/feature/different-way-thinking

Guardian article about autistic environment campaigner, Greta Thunberg:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/23/greta-thunberg-autism

Why it is so important to listen to autistic people themselves:

https://themighty.com/2019/04/autism-awareness-month-listen-autistic-people/?utm_source=newsletter_autism&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_autism_2019-04-24

Autistic Hoya discusses the semantics of autistic person vs person with autism:

https://www.autistichoya.com/2011/08/significance-of-semantics-person-first.html

Autistic meltdowns:

https://medium.com/autistic-discovery/the-anatomy-of-an-adult-autistic-meltdown-260b35c2121

Some strange, autistic, pink-loving, crazy cat lady I found on the internet. Oh wait, that's me!

www.autistic-ness.com

Autact - an autistic led theatre company:

https://autact.co.uk

Film-making Blog talking about aspiring film-makers on the spectrum, by The Autism Site:

https://blog.theautismsite.greatergood.com/look-whos-filming-aspiring-filmmakers-on-the-spectrum/

The National Disability Theatre (US)

https://nationaldisabilitytheatre.org

Asperger Foundation - based in London, UK. Useful information about Asperger’s syndrome:

http://aspergerfoundation.org.uk

Autangel - UK based organisation but has regular online webinars.

https://www.autangel.org.uk

AANE - Education and support for autistic people:

https://www.aane.org

Autism Europe:

https://www.autismeurope.org

Autism Flanders (Belgium - Dutch language)

https://autismevlaanderen.be

Pasform (Belgium - Dutch Language)

https://www.pasform.be/home

Neurodiverse Nurses UK:

http://ndnursesuk.org An organisation specifically for neurodiverse nurses in the UK.

Autistic Doctors International:

https://autisticdoctorsinternational.com

Self-tests and articles about signs and symptoms:

These are not diagnostic but are guides to help you decide if you may need or want to pursue a full autism assessment. More female specific lists can be found in the women and girls’ section.

https://www.wired.com/2001/12/aqtest/

https://www.aspietests.org

https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests

European Brains at Work:

https://europeanbrainsatwork.eu/en/

Neurotales Group:

NeuroTales is a writers group that connects Neurodivergent and Mad writers, strives to develop their work, and ultimately aims to put Disabled folk behind the wheel of their own narrative.

https://www.neurotales.com/about

Facebook groups:

I do not personally have any experience of Facebook groups, but the following were recommended to me:

Autistic Women + Living Authentically (Women only)

Actually Autistic Adults and Allies

http://www.myspectrumsuite.com/autism-facebook-online-community-groups/ (Marcelle Ciampi's list)

children schools

Children, schools, parents and teachers

How to talk to children about autism:

https://reframingautism.org.au/talking-to-children-about-autism/

Autism awareness and support in primary school:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/autism-awareness-school

Sensory challenges in the classroom:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/sensory-classroom

How to spot autism in the classroom:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/teachers-diagnosis

Toileting advice for autistic children:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/toileting

women resources

Autistic women & girls

AWE (Autistic Women Everywhere)

Fantastic website with many autistic women's personal stories. Also, the home of writer and artist, Michelle Riksman:

https://www.autisticwomeneverywhere.com

Guardian article discussing why women and girls are so under-diagnosed:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/14/thousands-of-autistic-girls-and-women-going-undiagnosed-due-to-gender-bias

Laura James, author of Odd Girl Out, talks about her late diagnosis of autism as an adult with hEDS:

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/02/health/autism-women-laura-james/index.html

Another Guardian article discussing the differences for autistic women and girls:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/apr/28/girls-women-autism-diagnosis-aspbergers

Cynthia Kim discusses how autism is often misdiagnosed as psychiatric illness in women:

https://awnnetwork.org/autistic-women-misdiagnosis-and-the-importance-of-getting-it-right/

Siobhan Ronan talks about her autism diagnosis as an adult, after going through a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder:

https://themighty.com/2016/08/getting-an-autism-diagnosis-as-an-adult/

Lil' ol' me, talking about my own late diagnosis:

https://medium.com/@AutisticNess https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-BkDKUK56A&t=1s

Carrie Beckwith-Fellows gives a Ted talk about her late diagnosis of autism:

v=cF2dhWWUyQ4&list=PLVzRKVaclHXr4txRo7InfIii58VlzoTmA&index=99

Susan Dunne writes: "I was diagnosed with autism in my 40s. I had no support, and spent a year weeping with regret for what felt like a train wreck of a life..."

https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/social-life-blog/2015/sep/16/autism-as-an-adult-on-the-many-days-i-spend-alone-i-forget-how-to-talk

Maxine Share discusses the misdiagnosis of girls and women:

https://themighty.com/2018/11/misdiagnosis-girls-autism-spectrum/

Actress, Daryl Hannah talks about her own late autism diagnosis:

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/daryl-hannah-my-battle-with-autism-9323

Reese Piper talks about her late diagnosis and why she wishes she had been diagnosed as a child:

https://theestablishment.co/i-thought-i-was-lazy-the-invisible-day-to-day-struggle-for-autistic-women-6268515175f3

Marcelle Ciampi M.Ed. (formerly Samantha Craft) has several websites and blogs (some retired but still available) as well as books and a very useful checklist for autism signs in women and girls:

https://everydayaspergers.com/tag/samantha-craft/

Autistic woman, Michelle Vines writes about autism in women:

https://www.spectrumwomen.com/latest-news/aspergers-on-the-inside-a-candid-interview-with-author-michelle-vines/

BBC website – autistic women’s voices:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/women_late_diagnosis_autism

Another website devoted to autistic women:

https://awnnetwork.org/autistic-women-misdiagnosis-and-the-importance-of-getting-it-right/

The National Autistic Society’s website, discussing autism and gender:

https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/gender/stories.aspx

Dr Temple Grandin, prolific author, and speaker on both autism and animal behaviour, and professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University:

https://www.templegrandin.com

Work

Work & burnout

I highly recommend:

Thinking Differently About Autism, April 2022: A fantastic series of 5 international panels consisting of actually autistic experts, organised by Sienna Castellon in partnership with Lexxic, for Neurodiversity Celebration Week. Highly recommended!

https://youtu.be/v7_yHFCmJdg

Autistic burnout explained:

https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autistic-burnout-explained/