Articles

Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska  on Unsplash This guide is for autistic adults who find the social side of gifts difficult (whether you’re the one giving, receiving, or both). It’s especially relevant at Christmas, but the ideas here apply all year round—birthdays, anniversaries, or any time gifts are expected. Some tips and ideas in this post might also apply to older autistic teens navigating gift exchanges with family and friends. Why Gifts Can Feel Difficult Many autistic p

Photo by Erwan Hesry  on Unsplash The festive season can be joyful, but it can also be exhausting. For many autistic people, Christmas brings a mix of excitement and stress. There might be more noise, more people, more changes to routine, and often, more pressure to join in. You don’t need to do it all. You don’t need to do it the way others do. Taking care of yourself matters, especially at this time of year. Why Christmas Can Be Hard Even if you enjoy some parts of the fest

Photo by THE 5TH  on Unsplash For many autistic people, routines are more than a preference—they are a way to bring stability into daily life. A routine can reduce anxiety by creating a sense of control and making the world feel more predictable. But developing a routine you can trust, and keeping it going over time, can be challenging. This article looks at how to build routines that feel reliable, how schedules can support them, and how to cope when plans inevitably change.

We often assume that everyone who celebrates Christmas adores it. After all, what's not to love? Family time, good food, sharing gifts and endless socialising. However, this is not always the case. The festive period can be overwhelming for the autistic people in your life. In this short article, we will delve into some of the reasons why and explore how you, as non-autistic family members, friends, or partners, can help make Christmas (just a bit more) autism friendly. Why