A
Adulthood
Autism Central have information and advice for autistic young people, including information on education, health, social care, benefits and decision-making.
Transition to adult services (autismcentral.nhs.uk)
Advocacy
The National Autistic Society offer support services to families with autistic adults or children.
Help and support (autism.org.uk)
Animal behaviour
Animal‑like behaviours such as crawling, growling, barking, and pretending to be animals are well‑recognised within autism research. These behaviours are linked to sensory needs, communication differences, imaginative play, special interests, and anxiety regulation. See the article below for more information.
Why some autistic children display animal-like behaviour
Anxiety
The 5-point scale for emotional regulation is a visual system that can help to organize a person’s thinking when working through difficult moments, particularly those that require social understanding. See the article below for more information.
The 5-Point Scale and Emotional Regulation (Kari Dunn Buron)
Autism
The National Autistic Society provide information about what autism is and how it affects people.
What is autism (autism.org.uk)
Autism Alert card
The National Autistic Society produce Autism Alert cards to let people know that someone is autistic and that they may need extra help or understanding in certain situations. You can buy the cards through their online shop or download the cards for free: I am Autistic Card (download)
Products: Autism alert cards (autism.org.uk)
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Provider Collaborative have produced information with Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation for those experiencing ARFID:
Support for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: ARFID (cntw.nhs.uk)
They have also published tips in their Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Simple Suggestions Series:
- How can schools support a child with ARFID? (cntw.nhs.uk)
- Strategies for planning and managing a holiday away from home (cntw.nhs.uk)
- Creating supportive mealtimes (cntw.nhs.uk)
- Helping your child add new foods (cntw.nhs.uk)
- Strategies to aid you in adding new foods (cntw.nhs.uk)
- Changing your eating environment (cntw.nhs.uk)
- Strategies to support you in challenging a fear (aversive consequences)(cntw.nhs.uk)
- Creating your own ideal supportive mealtime (cntw.nhs.uk)
B
Behaviour
The STAR analysis model is a helpful way of assessing what happens before, during and after an episode of unacceptable behaviour. You can use this chart to monitor and assess behaviour: STAR Approach – behaviour analysis chart
The National Autistic Society has advice on what causes distressed behaviour and offers tips on developing ways of dealing with it. They include information on
- Anger management
- Demand avoidance
- Distressed behaviour
- Eating
- Masking
- Meltdowns
- Organising and prioritising
- Self injurious behaviour
- Smearing
- Toileting
Bereavement
The National Autistic Society Has advice on bereavement and how it can affect autistitc people.
Blue Book of Strategies
Karen L. Baker from Rotherham Autism Communication Team has produced a booklet of basic strategies to support children with Autism and other social communication difficulties, for educational settings.
Blue Book: Strategies for Educational Settings
C
Comic Strip conversations
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust have information on using comic strip conversations to help autistic people develop greater social understanding.
Comic strip conversations (library.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk))
Communication
The National Autistic Society has advice, tips and visual tools to support autistic people with communication.
Autism and communication (autism.org.uk)
Counselling
Rotherham Parents Forum Limited offer counselling and psychotherapy services for young people (13+), neurodivergent adults, parent/carers and siblings of children with SEND.
For general information about their counselling services and a link to the self-referral form, click below.
D
Daily schedules
Beyond Autism has information about visual supports which can be used to help autistic people manage daily schedules.
Visual supports (beyondautism.org.uk)
E
Eating
The National Autistic Society has a guide to explain what may be causing eating issues for an autistic person and offer practical strategies to help.
Eating – a guide for all audiences (autism.org.uk)
The Association of UK Dieticians, the BDA, have produced a fact sheet on the most common dietary problems affecting autistic people and how dieticians can help:
Energy Accounting
Sheffield Children’s NHS has produced a leaflet about energy management. This is a tool to manage the day-to-day stress experienced by a person with autism.
Energy management (Sheffield Children’s NHS)
F
Family
The National Autistic Society has support programmes for parents and carers which offer advice and guidance on strategies and approaches to working with autistic children.
Family support (autism.org.uk)
They also have guides for navigating family relationships, and advice for parents, siblings and children on how to support their autistic family member.
Family relationships (autism.org.uk)
Autism Central is a peer support programme co-produced with parents, carers, and autistic people of all ages. It offers families education, coaching, and connection. Through resources, one-to-one peer support, and community events, it helps families:
- build knowledge and confidence
- understand autistic experiences of joy, distress, and wellbeing across the lifespan
- advocate effectively for their loved ones
- support wellbeing and reduce the risk of hospitalisation.
Autism Central (autismcentral.org.uk)
Friendships
The National Autistic Society has a guide for parents and carers on supporting your child manage social situations.
Making friends – supporting your autistic child (autism.org.uk)
They also have a guide for autistic adults on making friends and socialising
Making friends – a guide for autistic adults (autism.org.uk)
G
Girls and hidden presentation
Yellow Ladybugs together with the Department of Education & Training in Victoria, Australia have produced a comprehensive guide to greater visibility, better understanding and improving support for autistic girls.
Spotlight on girls with autism (Yellow Ladybugs/Victoria State Government)
Grandparents support and extended family
Autism Speaks offer advice to grandparents of children with autism.
Five Tips for Grandparents of a Child with Autism (autismspeaks.org)
Green Book of Strategies
Karen L. Baker from Rotherham Autism Communication Team has produced a booklet of basic strategies to support children with Autism and other social communication difficulties, for families. The booklet is available in English, Mandarin, Polish, Punjabi, Slovak, and Urdu.
Green Book: Strategies for families, English
Green Book: Strategies for families, Mandarin
Green Book: Strategies for families, Polish
Green Book: Strategies for families, Punjabi
Green Book: Strategies for families, Slovak
Green Book: Strategies for families, Urdu
H
Holidays
The National Autistic Society has advice and guidance which aims to make going on holiday an easier and less stressful experience for autistic people.
Going on holiday (autism.org.uk)
I
Interoception
Rotherham Integrated Care Partnership have produced some information on interoception. Interoception is how we sense our internal state – the feelings we have inside our bodies and it is a sensory area that can be challenging for some autistic people.
Interoception: A guide for parents
J
Jargon
Buckinghamshire Adult Autism Diagnostic and Intervention Service (BAADIS) have heard from services users and their families and carers that the technical terms (or ‘jargon’) sometimes used by professionals can be confusing or intimidating. Click on their link below, where they aim to explain some of these terms.
Jargon buster (oxfordhealth.nhs.uk)
K
Kooth
Kooth, the online Mental Health support service for children and young people aged 10 to 25 have produced a Neurodiversity, Autism & ADHD Collection.
This collection has a range of personal stories and supportive content to help navigate living with neurodivergence.
Neurodiversity, Autism & ADHD (kooth.com)
L
LQBTQ+
Ambitious about Autism have produced LGBTQ+ specific resources for the autistic community.
M
Masking
The National Autistic Society has advice and guidance on masking and its effect on autistic people and those around them.
Autistic people and masking (autism.org.uk)
You can see and download further resources on masking by clicking the links below:
Masking and the impact on mental health and identity
Educational psychologists gave a presentation about Masking to Rotherham SENCOs in March 2026. Click below to download the presentation, which includes advice to schools on recognising and supporting pupils who mask:
N
National Strategy
In July 2021, the government refreshed its national strategy for improving the lives of autistic people and their families and carers in England..
The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026 (GOV.UK)
It follows on from work relating to the impact of the Autism Act 2009:
Autism Act 2009 (legislation.gov.uk)
O
Online safety
The Ambitious about Autism has information about online safety for children and young people.
Online safety (ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk)
Mencap have produced a guide which outlines some suggestions to help parents limit the risk of their child having negative experiences online and to understand what action can be taken if they do.
Learning Disabilities, Autism and Internet Safety: A Guide for Parents (Mencap)
Oral Health
ToothPASTE has been created with families, professionals, and researchers. It is a free, online resource developed to support autistic children’s oral health but it is also relevant to many children with additional needs. It includes small, practical steps to help with toothbrushing, reducing sugary foods and drinks, and attending dental appointments.
ToothPASTE resource for autistic children’s oral health (autismtoothcare.com)
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD), the organisation of dentists and their teams who care for children’s teeth and gums, has assembled some oral health advice for parents and carers of autistic children and young people.
Guidance for parents and carers of autistic children and young people (PDF)
P
Periods
Rotherham Integrated Care Partnership have produced a leaflet about menstruation and periods with advice to support autistic children approaching puberty.
Periods and girls with sensory processing difficulties
Q
Questionnaires
University Hospitals Plymouth have published some questionnaires which you can use if you think that you or someone you know might have Autism.
Do you think you might have Autism? | University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
R
Relationships
The National Autistic Society has published a guide for parents wanting to talk to their child about puberty, sex, sexuality and relationships.
Sex education – a guide for parents (autism.org.uk)
S
Sensory needs
There is a section on sensory needs under health and wellbeing.
Health and Wellbeing – Sensory Needs
Rotherham Integrated Care Partnership have produced several packs about supporting children and young people with sensory processing difficulties
Sensory Strategies: Parent Information Pack
Sensory Strategies: Teenager Information Pack
Sensory Strategies: School Information Pack
Sleep
See the sleep advice on the Health and Wellbeing section of the Local Offer.
Rotherham Integrated Care Partnership have produced some information on how sensory processing difficulties can affect sleep:
Social Stories
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has information on preparing social stories to help autistic people develop greater social understanding.
Social stories (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)
T
Toileting
The National Autistic Society have a guide to toilet training for families with autistic children.
Toileting – a guide for parents and carers (autism.org.uk)
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust have also produced guides to support with toileting issues:
There is additional advice on supporting autistic children and young people around toileting such as social stories and how to manage the practicalities of toileting:
A story about me using the toilet – an editable social story which can be personalised.
Tips for bottom wiping – by the Rotherham Integrated Care Partnership
You can also get advice on difficult issues such as faecal smearing:
Faecal Smearing – by the Rotherham Integrated Care Partnership
Practical advice for smearing – by SCS (Specialist Children’s Services and Kids Scotland
U
Unstructured time – Playtimes
The National Autistic Society has advice on helping autistic children deal with unstructured periods of time at school
Difficulties at lunch and break times (autism.org.uk)
V
Visual supports
Beyond Autism has information about visual supports which can be used to help autistic people manage daily schedules.
Visual supports (beyondautism.org.uk)
W
Wellbeing
Autism Central has published a set of resources to support autistic people and their families with looking after their health and wellbeing.
Supporting health and wellbeing (autismcentral.org.uk)
X
Y
Youth groups
There is a directory of inclusive youth groups and activities in Rotherham on the Local Offer. There are specific groups for autistic children and young people, including Chat and Chill for those aged 13 to 19 and a range of Group Peer Support activities for neurodiverse adults aged 18 and over who have a Rotherham GP.
SEND Groups – Rotherham SEND Local Offer
