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Home > Services & Support > Information Resources

Information Resources

Here to provide meaningful information on all things autism.

Scottish Autism recognises that access to reliable and useful information is critical for autistic individuals, their families and involved professionals.

We are continuously developing information resources on a range of day to day topics and issues. Our information development is based on our knowledge and understanding of the common challenges that arise for people. This is informed by the nature of the many enquiries made to our Autism Advice Line.

In addition to web based information, our autism advisors are happy to discuss individual situations and where possible will provide bespoke information and advice. To speak to an advisor directly, please contact our advice line.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a new virus, which is impacting everyone’s lives, including autistic people and their families. We have created some information resources about COVID-19 that we hope you will find useful at this challenging time.

COVID-19 support document


If you are looking for help explaining Coronavirus to your relative or the person you support, click here:
What is Coronavirus?
What should I do if I have Coronavirus?
What should I do if someone at home has Coronavirus?
What to do if I sneeze or cough?
What to do if I'm ill with something else?
I will try to sneeze or cough into elbow

Hand washing poster

If you are looking for stories to help explain Coronavirus to your relative or the person you support, click here:
Learn at home
Learn at school
Groups and activites outside of the home
What is social distancing?

Scottish Government have made an easyread version of its advice to download
Coronavirus Latest Advice - Scottish Government and NHS
Coronavirus Isolation Poster - Scottish Government and NHS

External Useful Documents on Coronavirus
Carol Gray - Coronavirus 
Dr Siobhan Timmons - What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus Story - easy read
COVID-19 Hospital Visiting Guidance

 

Education 

Education Resources
Support for parents at home
Mood diary
Circle of control
My week
Suppoting your child's wellbeing

Autism is different for everyone. This means that it can present very differently from person to person. Additionally, each autistic person’s communication, social interaction, imagination and interaction with their environment will not be solely determined by autism. Their life experiences and personality traits will, as any other person, shape who they are. For this reason, it is important to learn about each individual, and as much as possible, allow your learning of autism to be guided by them.

Learn more

Many parents of children and adults on the autism spectrum report difficulties with eating.

There may be a number of reasons for this but first and foremost it is vital to look at the person’s health and get a medical check in order to eliminate any serious illness.

Click here for more information

Sleeping difficulties are very common in people on the autism spectrum. Disruption to sleep can arise for many reasons. Some examples are: anxiety, the need for a more predictable routine, confusion regarding time concepts, a poor understanding of the concept of sleep and confusion resulting from busy or cluttered sleeping environment.

Click here for more information

Supporting a child on the autism spectrum to be independent in their toileting can be a daunting prospect for parents. There are many reasons why this may prove more challenging for a child on the spectrum than with a more typically developing child. Communication is a key issue.

Click here for more information

Play is such a fundamental part of child rearing, and one that comes so naturally to most babies, children and parents that we often don’t stop to think about the importance of play on so many parts of a child’s development.

Click here for more information

The advice below is drawn from the accumulated experience of supporting many individuals and families to access this basic but often problematic activity. The advice given does not apply to everyone and is intended to help with short term approaches whilst longer term learning and understanding can build.

Click here for more information

Many of us cringe at the very thought of visiting the dentist.

The smells, the noise of the drill, the fact that you find it hard to swallow with a finger poking into your mouth - whatever the reason it is hard for most of us to endure, but for people on the autism spectrum this can be an especially challenging experience. This may be as a result of the type of fear and anxiety that many people experience.

Click here for more information

Christmas is a special time of year, but for an autistic person it can also be daunting. Changes in daily structure and routine, combined with the unpredictability of events can be challenging, with new toys, seasonal foods, flashing Christmas decorations and louder music.

Click here for short list of useful tips that we hope may prove helpful in making this festive period as special and as stress free as possible.

Going on holiday with a child or adult on the autism spectrum can be a challenging prospect. There are a number of reasons why this might be the case. There may be issues with adapting to change, to a new environment or in supporting the individual to manage various forms of transport, new routines and new activities.

Click here for more information

The experience of attending university is full of possibilities and experiences that will, for most young people, be new and exciting.

Accessing higher education is a very real possibility for many young people on the autism spectrum, particularly those with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Click here for more information

Keeping ourselves and the people we look after safe online can be a challenge in today’s world of social media, internet searches, online gaming and numerous devices - we've collated a list of resources you may find helpful, learn more.

There are many different types of financial support that you be may be eligible for. Many of these involve completing an application - find out more.

Receiving a diagnosis can be both a positive, and overwhelming experience for most people. The type of support you will want to access will be completely depending on your own unique needs. Find out about potential support networks and resources you might be interested in post-diagnosis - learn more.

For parents/carers, the person you care for receiving a diagnosis can be both a positive, and overwhelming experience for most people. The type of support the person you care for will want to access, and you will as a carer will want to access, will be completely dependent on your own unique needs. Find out more about some suggestions of potential support networks and resources you might be interested in post-diagnosis - learn more.

A routine can be defined as a sequence of actions regularly followed by an individual.  A routine could be a daily occurrence for some, a weekly occurrence for others or specific routines for specific times or events; the routines will be completed consistently at the same time in the same way to give consistency - learn more about maintaining routines.