A diagnosis can arrive in many different ways. Sometimes it comes as a relief,  a long-sought explanation for things you've observed and worried about for years. Sometimes it comes as a shock, even when you'd half expected it. Often it arrives as both at once.

You've probably spent years adapting. Learning the unwritten rules. Watching how others interact and quietly rehearsing it. Smiling at the right moments, making eye contact even when it feels physically uncomfortable, and then coming home utterly spent,  sometimes not knowing why.

Demand avoidance is a common characteristic often seen in children with autism spectrum condition (ASC), where they may show resistance or distress in response to requests or expectations, even if those demands are simple or routine.

Experiencing some anxiety about school is very normal for children and young people, particularly at transition points such as a new term or during exams. For some young people, this anxiety can become overwhelming and result in the avoidance of school.

Jess Birchall, Autism clinician and special educational needs consultant shares her reviews of recommended books addressing the themes and challenges of autism.

Exam season can be overwhelming for many young people, and for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), it can bring additional challenges.

The presentation of autism in men and women can be very different. Men may have a clear presentation that can be easily identified. Whereas women have learnt to cope with social expectations and pressure from a young age, and this is called masking.

Camouflaging is the process of changing or concealing one’s natural personality in order to “fit in”, or perhaps more specifically in order to be perceived as neurotypical.