Autism

Understanding Autism

If your child has recently been identified as autistic, is waiting for an assessment, or you're beginning to wonder whether autism may explain some of their experiences, you may have a lot of questions. What does an autism diagnosis actually mean? How will it affect your child's life, learning, relationships, and wellbeing? What kinds of support are available, and where do families even begin?

These are the kinds of questions many families ask, and the videos on this page are designed to provide clear, practical, and supportive information from both professionals and families with lived experience.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental difference that affects the way a person experiences and interacts with the world. Autistic children and young people may experience differences in communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation, social interaction, flexibility, and routines. Every autistic person is different, with their own unique strengths, challenges, interests, and ways of understanding the world.

Many autistic children are thoughtful, creative, deeply passionate, and highly capable, but they may also experience environments differently to those around them. School, friendships, sensory overload, anxiety, exhaustion from masking, and feeling misunderstood can all have a significant impact on wellbeing.

The videos in this series include both specialist perspectives and personal family journeys. They explore topics including neurodevelopmental assessment, navigating educational support, understanding autism within family life, and hearing directly from parents, grandparents, and autistic young people about their experiences.

You do not need to watch everything at once. Different families connect with different parts of the journey at different times. Whether you are newly exploring autism, supporting your child through diagnosis, trying to understand school supports, or wanting to hear from other families who “get it,” we hope these resources help you feel informed, supported, and less alone.

Use the sections below to explore the topics most relevant to your family right now.