Autism Information Resources
These information sheets are free and downloadable. They contain practical advice and strategies for families, carers, teachers, and other professionals.
Our longer information sheet ‘A Guide to Autism’ can be downloaded here: A GUIDE TO AUTISM and also: Autism Information in Alternative Languages
Autism, sometimes called autism spectrum disorder or condition, is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect the way a person:
- Communicates and interacts with others
- Experiences their senses
- Thinks and behaves
Asperger Syndrome and Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) are also conditions on the autism spectrum, sometimes called subtypes.
Autism is a lifelong condition that is present from birth, even though it may not be apparent until later. It is not the result of an illness or of any trauma a child may have experienced.
Autism is referred to as a spectrum condition because each person is different and has their own strengths and challenges. Some autistic people require significant support in their daily lives, while others need less support, and many autistic people live independently.
Some autistic people have other conditions alongside their autism such as a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia) or epilepsy.
Autistic people can often experience anxiety and some autistic people may have mental health conditions alongside their autism such as anxiety and depression.
Whilst we do not fully understand what causes autism, research has shown that there is a genetic link and that it can present in other family members through generations. However, autism can also appear in families for the first time.
There are increasing opportunities for support for individuals to be part of the community; access supported living; additional support at university; in the workplace, however there is still more to be done. Much has been achieved in raising awareness of autism in the past years and moving forward we support the autistic community in the pursuit of understanding and ultimately, acceptance.
For more information about autism and how to support autistic children and adults visit our information resources below.
Adult Support
Travelling by Plane
This information sheet is designed to help you prepare for your trip, from planning your journey to arriving at your destination.
Asperger Syndrome
This information sheet details how people with Asperger Syndrome may experience the core features of autism and have particular challenges with social interaction and non-verbal communication.
Autism and Ageing
This information sheet is designed to give autistic adults an introduction to what happens when you get older.
Autism, Change and Transition
This information sheet introduces reasons why, and how we can support autistic people during change and transition.
Building Independence
This information sheet explains what being independent will mean to different people and how to achieve this.
Community Care Assessments
This information sheet is about community care assessments and is available to any adult at risk of harm (vulnerable adult) including those with disabilities and mental health issues.
Dating and Relationships
This information sheet gives an introduction to dating, from choosing a partner to disclosing your diagnosis.
Diagnosing Autistic Adults
This information sheet is designed to give you a step-by-step guide to what you might expect to happen throughout the process.
Friendships
This information sheet explains what a friendship is and gives some hints and tips about friendship.
Further Education
This information sheet is designed to provide strategies for staff and students who are attending college or university with an autism person.
Internet Safety
This information sheet is designed to help you to stay safe online. It gives some detailed explanations of why it is important and what can go wrong, as well as some top tips.
Managing Stress and Anxiety for Autistic People
This information sheet is about managing stress and anxiety in autistic people.
Independence Payments
The following information has been compiled using publicly accessible sources. Autism West Midlands cannot give individual benefit advice.
Personal Budgets
This information sheet gives you an introduction to personal budgets and explains how you can contact the local authority for a personal budget.
Autism, Sex and Relationships
This information gives an introduction to different aspects of sexual behaviour.
Autistic Women and Girls
This information sheet explores the possible reasons for this and how autistic boys and girls are different from each other.
Family Support
A Guide To Travelling By Plane
This information sheet is designed to help you prepare for your trip, from planning your journey to arriving at your destination.
Asperger syndrome
This information sheet details how people with Asperger syndrome may experience the core features of autism.
Understanding Behaviour in Autistic Children
This information sheet is designed to outline some possible causes of behaviours of concern and recommends some techniques to deal with them.
Autism and Bereavement
This information sheet is designed to provide information and advice on supporting autistic people who have experienced loss.
Autism and Self-injury
This information sheet gives information on self-injury and how to support a person who self-injures.
Autism and Sleep
This information sheet explains some of the reasons autistic children may have difficulties with sleep, and gives some tips on how to improve sleep.
Change and Transition
This information sheet introduces reasons why, and how we can support autistic people during change and transition.
Choosing a School
This information sheet is designed to help you think about whether a school is suitable for your child.
Developing Play
This information sheet is designed to explore play in autistic children, and gives tips on how to encourage autistic children to develop their play.
Diagnosing Autistic Children
The information sheet is based on the best practice guidelines written by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Food and Diet
This information sheet looks at difficulties some autistic people might have with food and diet and how to support autistic people to have a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Fun Activities
This guide lists activities and toys that parents of autistic children have found particularly useful.
Helping Autistic Children To Learn
This information sheet is about helping autistic children to learn.
Interventions
This information sheet is about choosing the right kind of intervention for your autistic child.
Managing Stress and Anxiety for Parents & Carers
This information sheet gives strategies to parents and carers on how to manage their own stress and anxiety.
Meltdown and Shutdown
This information sheet helps you to understand meltdowns and shutdowns and how you can avoid/manage these.
Pathological Demand Avoidance
This information sheet provides some behavioural strategies to support a person with PDA.
Sensory Issues
This information sheet gives an introduction to these issues and how to support an autistic person with sensory issues.
Siblings and Autism
This information sheet is designed to explain how an autistic child may affect their siblings and give some tips on how to support siblings.
Autism and Stimming
This information sheet explains stimming behaviour and how to manage this.
Talking to Your Child About Autism
It can be difficult to know when to tell an autistic child about their diagnosis. This information sheet gives some tips on how to approach this topic.
Telling Other People About Being Autistic
This information sheet gives some tips on how to approach this topic.
Understanding and Dealing with Difficult Behaviours
This information sheet helps you to understand and provides tools to help deal with difficult behaviours.
Post-diagnosis information (children)
This information sheet is for parents whose children have recently been diagnosed as autistic.
Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPS)
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document which sets out a description of a child or young person’s needs and strengths.
Returning to School
This information sheet looks at transition back to school. It looks at the particular issues raised by the Covid-19 lockdown.
General Support
Autism and Communication
This information sheet introduces communication, and how it may be different in autistic people.
Autism Information Sheets
All of these information sheets are available to download for free online, both on our website and our online social network Autism Connect – www.autism-connect.org.uk
The Care Act
This information explains how the Care Act effects autistic people and their carers.
Telling Other People About Autism
This information sheet gives some tips on how to approach this topic.
Autistic Parent Carer School Disclosure Form
If you are an autistic parent and would like your child’s school to make reasonable adjustments when communicating with you as a parent, you can download, fill out and present this free form to the school authorities.
Autism and Wearing Face Coverings
This information sheet looks at ways to support autistic people to wear face masks and what you can do if you or the person you support is unable to wear a mask.
Other Language Versions
A Guide to Autism in Punjabi
This information sheet gives you a guide to autism in Punjabi.
Asperger's Syndrome in Arabic
This information sheet gives you a guide to Aspergers Syndrome in Arabic.
Asperger's Syndrome in Urdu
This information sheet gives you a guide to Aspergers Syndrome in Urdu.
Asperger's Syndrome in Punjabi
This information sheet gives you a guide to Aspergers Syndrome in Punjabi.
Asperger's Syndrome in Polish
This information sheet gives you a guide to Aspergers Syndrome in Polish.
Asperger's Syndrome in Bengali
This information sheet gives you a guide to Aspergers Syndrome in Bengali.
Asperger's Syndrome in Somali
This information sheet gives you a guide to Aspergers Syndrome in Somali
Asperger's Syndrome in Nepali
This information sheet gives you a guide to Aspergers Syndrome in Nepali.