This honest, to-the-point guide illuminates the experience of young Autistic girls and explores the situations they can easily fall victim to. Powerful case studies show how easily misunderstandings can arise for Autistic girls and help the reader to identify common patterns of abuse. Providing professionals with access to safeguarding strategies that are straightforward to implement and highly effective, this is essential reading for everyone who wants to better understand the challenges faced by this vulnerable group, and ensure they have access to the same opportunities to secure a good education and build safe and happy relationships as their peers.
Autistic people often feel they have to present as neurotypical or perform neurotypical social behaviours in order to fit in. So-called 'masking' is a social survival strategy used by autistic people in situations where neurodiversity is not understood or welcomed. While this is a commonly observed phenomenon in the autistic community, the complexities of masking are still not widely understood. This book combines the latest research with personal case studies detailing autistic experiences of masking. It explains what masking is and the various strategies used to mask in social situations. The research also delves into the psychology behind masking and the specifics of masking at school, at social events with peers, and at work. The book looks at the consequences of masking, including the toll it can have on mental and physical health, and suggests guidance for family, professionals, and employers to ameliorate negative effects. With a diverse range of voices, including perspectives across gender, ethnicity and age, this is the comprehensive guide to masking and how to support autistic people who mask.
Autistic girls, especially those educated in mainstream environments, have often been missed or misdiagnosed. There is now, however, greater awareness of how autism can present in females, why these girls can remain ‘invisible’, and what education and health professionals can do to provide better support. Fully revised and updated, this practical book shines a light on the insights, opinions and experiences of autistic girls and women, providing a rich insight into school life from an autistic perspective. It explores the difficulties and disadvantages that autistic girls can face in educational settings and offers guidance on how to best support them, with a wealth of strategies reflecting good practice in the field of autism and education. The resource also contains a broad range of worksheets and activities on key issues and includes new sections on anxiety, masking, home life, social media, gender and sexual identity. Key features include: A wealth of case studies to illustrate different topics Guidance on best practice when working with autistic girls New audits to help staff and pupils to identify strengths and areas to improve Easy-to-implement strategies and tips to help professionals adapt to environments and policies for autistic students Activities and resources for young autistic females to support them in developing self-awareness, coping strategies and learning skills With the voices of autistic girls and young women woven throughout, drawing upon their experiences of education – from learning and communication, to friendships, transitions and interpreting the world – this is an essential resource for education and health professionals working with autistic girls, particularly in mainstream environments.
"What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew" is the book that many of us wish our parents would have had access to when we were growing up. In this first book release from the Autism Women's Network, the autistic contributors write with honesty and generosity about the emotional needs, sensitivity, and vibrancy of autistic girls.
Moonbeam Children's Book Awards - Silver Medal Winner Nautilus Silver Book Award Winner Purple Dragonfly Book Awards - First Place "Never be ashamed of being different: it is this difference that makes you extraordinary and unique." This essential go-to guide gives you all the advice and tools you'll need to help you flourish and achieve what you want in life. From the answers to everyday questions such as 'Am I using appropriate body language?' and 'Did I say the wrong thing?', through to discussing the importance of understanding your emotions, looking after your physical and mental health and coping with anxiety and sensory overloads, award-winning neurodiversity campaigner Siena Castellon uses her own experiences to provide you with the skills to overcome any challenge. With practical tips on friendships, dating, body image, consent and appearance, as well as how to survive school and bullying, The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide gives you the power to embrace who you are, reminding you that even during the toughest of teen moments, you are never alone.
Often thought of as a predominantly ‘male’ disorder, autism has long gone unidentified, unnoticed and unsupported in girls – sometimes with devastating consequences for their social and mental well-being. As current research reveals a much more balanced male-to-female ratio in autism, this book provides crucial insight into autistic girls’ experiences, helping professionals to recognize, understand, support and teach them effectively. Drawing on the latest research findings, chapters consider why girls have historically been overlooked by traditional diagnostic approaches, identifying behaviours that may be particular to girls, and exploring the ‘camouflaging’ that can make the diagnosis of autistic girls more difficult. Chapters emphasize both the challenges and advantages of autism and take a multidisciplinary approach to encompass contributions from autistic girls and women, their family members, teachers, psychologists and other professionals. The result is an invaluable source of first-hand insights, knowledge and strategies, which will enable those living or working with girls on the autism spectrum to provide more informed and effective support. Giving voice to the experiences, concerns, needs and hopes of girls on the autism spectrum, this much-needed text will provide parents, teachers and other professionals with essential information to help them support and teach autistic girls more effectively.
In the early hours of 28th July 2016, Colette McCulloch was hit by a lorry and killed on the A1. Eighteen hours earlier she had walked out of the specialist care facility for autistic adults where she was being treated. Here, Andy and Amanda McCulloch tell the story of their daughter's life and untimely death: the years in which her autism went undiagnosed, her lifelong battle with eating disorders and the lack of support for her complex needs. The book is interspersed with Colette's own vivid and eloquent writing, her poetry and prose articulating her experiences grappling with a world forever at odds with her. Colette's story is a call to action and ultimately leaves a message of hope for a future in which autistic people will be better understood and able to flourish.
Safeguarding Your Child with Autism focuses on preventing unintentional injuries to children, teens, and your adults with autism. The book explains that there is a much higher rate of preventable injuries to people with autism compared to their typically developing peers. Deficits in communication and comprehension, as well as certain dangerous behaviors and fixations can have devastating consequences (poisonings, burns, falls, injuries from vehicular collisions, drowning). The authors, experts on autism, offer ways to reduce hazards and teach skills to help people with autism negotiate the world safely, and cover: Models for safety-- top-ranked Sweden's approach to child safety; caregiver surveillance approach; root cause analysis of close calls; Behavior Analytic Approach to determine the reason behind a specific behavior; the Haddon Matrix, a prevention planning tool Instructional approach-- visual supports; Social Stories; prompts & reinforcement; role-play; modeling; Behavioral Skills Training; Direct Teaching Specific strategies for major risks--barriers; supervision; pedestrian safety skills; water safety skills; family action plan; IEP; behavior assessment; bullying prevention; protective gear for sports; hazards removal from environment Devices and technology Collaboration with law enforcement and first responders Special attention is given to monitoring and preventing elopement and wandering tendencies, which create very dangerous, unsupervised environments and can lead to unintentional injuries.
"The Spectrum Girl's Survival Toolkit is an essential and practical workbook with a wealth of information, strategies, and resources for young women with autism." - Dr. Tony Lloyd, CEO, ADHD Foundation A companion to the bestseller The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide, this essential toolkit workbook for teen autistic girls gives you the coping strategies needed to overcome the challenges that may be holding you back. Using clinically proven techniques like mindfulness, acceptance, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), autistic award-winning neurodiversity campaigner Siena Castellon shares her experiences, strategies, and tools to help you thrive at home, at school, and beyond. This friendly workbook is filled with autism-focused practical advice and interactive exercises on managing social anxiety, sensory overloads, making and maintaining friendships, and much more. In this fun and engaging workbook, you'll find: More than 100 different exercises and activities - You'll learn how to succeed in school, reframe negative thoughts, safeguard your mental health, and practice self-care. How to tap into the power of your character strengths to become the best version of yourself - You'll be encouraged to take charge of your life by building your confidence, recognizing your many strengths, thinking more positively, setting goals, and investing in your future and much more! Throughout this relatable book, Siena shares her struggles and victories of being autistic to remind you that you are not alone and that you're awesome and autistic. "Siena's new book takes all the wisdom of her 'Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide', and turns it into innovative practical techniques to manage the more difficult aspects of life as an autistic girl. The Spectrum Girl's Survival Toolkit is full of amazing tips and strategies - all offered with Siena's trademark reassurance, understanding, and kindness. It's an essential resource for autistic young people, their teachers, and parents, and will make such a difference to so many lives." - Dr. Anna Remington, Director, Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE), UCL Institute of Education, University College London
Autistic girls can be frequently misunderstood, underestimated and therefore anxious in a school environment. This practical book offers an innovative life skills curriculum for autistic girls aged 11 to 15, based on the author's successful workshops and training, which show how to support girls' wellbeing and boost their self-esteem. Including an adapted PSHE curriculum, this is a straightforward guide to educating autistic children on the issues that matter most to them. It covers all essential areas of wellbeing, including communication, identity, self-regulation and triggers, safety, and physical and mental health, and offers the reader strategies to help the autistic girls in their lives enhance and develop these.
