Autism and Disability News
Former church minister creates art reflecting on his autism
A former Belfast minister who was diagnosed with autism in his late 50s said he spent many years "masking" his condition. Keith Drury told BBC News NI that it helped him cope with a profession that involved a lot of social contact.
Having left the ministry Keith is now a successful artist, and his latest collection of paintings 'We're All Mad Here' reflects on neurodiversity and his own autism.
Comedy night to showcase neurodiverse performers
A new venue at the Leicester Comedy Festival is to host an event to showcasing disabled and neurodiverse performers.
Sunny Skies Cafe in Melton, which creates opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, is one of 12 new venues and is the smallest space hosting a show at this year's festival.
Successful special educational needs complaints in England quadruple in four years
Successful complaints about councils’ special educational needs and disability (Send) services in England have quadrupled in four years, in the latest evidence of the crisis facing the system.
'It's devastating': UK's biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
Lucy* just wants a job. Since leaving college over a year ago, she’s been applying to any job she can physically do. But time and time again, Lucy, who is autistic, comes up against the same barrier: personality tests.
She is applying for entry-level, retail roles at companies including Co-op and Pandora, but finds the tests make an application near-impossible, and thinks their use could amount to discrimination.
Autistic man 'proud' to have first paid job at 30
An autistic man who has learning disabilities is celebrating securing his first paid job role. George Buxton, from Yeovil, has been supported by Realise, which is part of the not-for-profit Somerset Care, since he left college in 2017. With their help and encouragement, the 30-year-old secured volunteer roles in both his local library and a nearby charity shop - and has now started his first paid job at Somerset Care.
Autism and ADHD: a Q&A with Thea Stein
There has been a lot of recent interest in the rising demand for NHS autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) services. In this Q&A, Thea Stein shares her thoughts on how big the problem is and whether there is a way to improve it. Before becoming the Nuffield Trust’s Chief Executive in 2023, Thea was the Chief Executive of Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
Running helps bring autistic boy to 'calmer level'
The father of a 10-year-old boy who is autistic has praised the warm welcome his son has received from a junior running club. Stuart Raffle realised early on that encouraging Ralphy to get into the fresh air and running "brings him to a calmer level.. clears his mind". He has since joined the Harwich Runners junior club in Essex where the coaches "completely understand he's got autism" and give him extra time and support.
We post news stories about autism on the live feed once a week on a Thursday. If you see any news stories related to autism, neurodiversity, disability or Ambitious about Autism, please email them to us at [email protected].