Why We Should All Celebrate Rainbow Brains… When we hear about autism and ADHD, we may think of two distinct conditions, but the reality is much more complex. Both conditions frequently co-occur, and in many cases a person who is autistic may also have ADHD,...
Autism and ADHD assessment waits are up to 2 years long. There are 3 things families can do, write Sarah Pillar and Andrew Whitehouse. Reports have emerged from around Australia of waitlists of up to two years to receive a diagnostic assessment for neurodevelopmental conditions, such as...
Don’t forget the power of play – write David Trembath and Andrew Whitehouse. Navigating a maze of therapies and supports can be difficult for parents of autistic children. Often, children have multiple learning needs, and attempting to address them one by one can take more hours than there...
Adam Guastella, Kelsie Boulton and Natalie Silove guide parents and what they should know about getting a neurodevelopmental assessment With childcare and schools starting the new year, parents might be anxiously wondering how their child will adapt in a new learning environment. Some parents may be concerned...
Andrew Whitehouse and David Trembath report on their new guideline for clinicians and families Australian’s first national guideline outlining the best ways of providing clinical support to autistic children and their families will be launched in Canberra today. The guideline, which we co-authored with others, represents a...
Holding a conversation, working in a group, giving constructive feedback and dealing with conflict are vital interpersonal skills that contribute to an empowered and connected life, reports Dr Matthew Harrison While some people seem to acquire these skills effortlessly, others facing social challenges can require additional...
Josephine Barbaro and Marie Camin suggest the earlier the better With better awareness and acceptance, approximately one out of every 50 children is receiving an autism diagnosis. More and more families are deciding when to share this information with their child. Some parents worry that doing...
Sleep strategies and simple bedtime routines can improve sleep in autistic children, reducing anxiety and enhancing family wellbeing, a new Monash University study reveals. The largest study of its kind into sleep problems in children on the autism spectrum, led by Monash University’s Professor Nicole Rinehart, found...
Kids on the autism spectrum experience more bullying. Schools can do something about it, write researchers P. Daniel Lin and Valsamma Eapen Children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, experience various types of challenges at school. This might be due to communication, and also relationships...
A group of Monash University researchers report that over the past 20 years, there have been monumental shifts in the way we work with young people with disability and their families. Back in the 1990s, when a child was diagnosed with autism it followed a sad...
