By Rhiannon Ansemous Introduction Across the UK, individuals with autism and learning disabilities are supported by services that are expected to promote safety, wellbeing, and a meaningful life. Yet in many settings, the concept of “risk” has become a dominant organising force—often at the expense of autonomy, dignity, and happiness (Beadle-Brown et al., 2016; CQC, 2020). When risk management eclipses a person’s right to joy, connection, and agency, the result is not safety,

Professor Andrew McDonnell reviews ‘The Age of Diagnosis: Sickness, Health, and Why Medicine Has Gone Too Far’ by Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan (2025). In this new publication, Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan deals with a number of highly sensitive areas, including potential and misdiagnosis of a range of conditions such as ADHD, autism, cancer, and long Covid. Dr O’Sullivan, a consultant in neurology in London, presents a view that overdiagnoses of many conditions leads to a race for explanat

Speaking about the LASER Approach, Gareth gave an overview of the core tenants of the approach, including personalisation not normalisation.

Explore how autistic traits in women, including sensory sensitivities and social challenges, can relate to self-injury behaviours.

Why is it essential to understand the transaction of stress between children with autism and other diagnoses, parents, and school staff?

This article will look briefly at the long history of abusive practices at the Judge Rotenberg Center and electric shock treatment.

In this book, Sarah provides information, guidance and advice for newly diagnosed or questioning teens and young people.

The team at Spectrum Gaming talks about their new website, Autism Understood, a resource for autistic young people and adults.

Professor Andrew McDonnell shares some key things to consider when seeking an autism diagnosis or assessment.

In this article, Studio 3 reviews Pete Wharmby’s 2022 publication, 'Untypical.'

Diagnostic overshadowing occurs when everything a person does is understood only through the lens of that diagnosis.

Review of 'Speechless' by Fiacre Ryan, a collection of non-fiction writing and poetry from his perspective as a non-verbal autistic man.

Studio 3 practitioner Mary Maher gives an account of the clinical services such as individualised support for families available in Ireland

In this article, two families share their experiences of education and applying the Low Arousal Approach with young people, and the...

This article discusses the SEMH Handbook by BDSIP for mainstream school settings to support inclusion and provide SEND provision

Book review of 'Championing Your Autistic Teen at Secondary School' by Debby Elley and Gareth D Morewood (2022)

In this article, Professor Andrew McDonnell comments on the court case against 9 members of staff from Whorlton Hall exposed by BBC Panorama

Professor Andrew McDonnell reviews Autism and the Predictive Brain by Peter Vermeulen. 'Autism and the Predictive Brain: Absolute...

'Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person: A Parent's Handbook to Supporting Newly Diagnosed Teens and Pre-Teens' by Cathy Wassell New from...

Alexis Quinn is an autistic author whose book ‘Unbroken: Learning to Live Beyond Diagnosis’ shares some of her experiences within mental...