Free guides for Autistic people
Free guides, offered as a gentle starting point, wherever you are on your path. Plain-language guides on Autistic wellbeing, mental health and identity, drawn from Autistic-led research and the book Supporting Autistic People: A Six-Point Framework. Written to be useful whether or not you ever take the course.
Autistic burnout: what it is, the signs, and what helps recovery
What Autistic burnout is, how it differs from depression, its signs and causes, and what helps recovery. A plain-language guide for Autistic people.
Autistic masking: what it is, why we do it, and what it costs
What Autistic masking is, why Autistic people do it, what it costs your mental health, and how to unmask safely at your own pace. A plain-language guide.
Sensory overload: what's happening, and what helps (an Autistic guide)
Sensory overload in autism explained: why it builds up, the early signs, the eight senses, and gentle ways to prevent and recover from it.
Autistic meltdown vs shutdown: the differences, and how to recover
Autistic meltdowns and shutdowns are two responses to overwhelm. Learn how they differ from tantrums, what they look like, and how to recover with care.
Stimming: why Autistic people stim, and why it's worth protecting
Stimming explained: why Autistic people stim, what it does for regulation, emotion and joy, why suppressing it causes harm, and what helps if a stim hurts.
Late-identified Autistic: grief, relief and coming home to yourself
Realised you're Autistic as an adult? A guide to late identification: the grief and relief, unmasking, burnout, and building a new sense of who you are.
“Autistic person” or “person with autism”? Choosing words with care
Identity-first vs person-first language for autism: what each means, what most Autistic people prefer, why functioning labels harm, and how to choose your words.
Monotropism explained: the theory of Autistic attention
Monotropism is a theory of Autistic attention: deep focus on a few things. See how it explains flow, transitions, interests, overwhelm and starting tasks.
The double empathy problem, explained simply
The double empathy problem, from Autistic researcher Damian Milton, shows communication gaps between Autistic and non-Autistic people are mutual.
Interoception and autism: why “I don't know how I feel” can be the exact truth
Interoception is the sense of your body's internal state. Why many Autistic people miss, or are overwhelmed by, hunger, pain or emotion cues, and what helps.
Autistic trauma: why it looks different, and what genuine safety needs
Autistic trauma is often chronic and relational, not one event. Learn how it builds, why masking can be a trauma response, and what genuine safety is made of.
Being, Belonging, Becoming: growing a positive Autistic identity
A gentle guide to growing a positive Autistic identity: understand your mind, find words that fit you, ease shame, find community and protect your wellbeing.
Self-identifying as Autistic: is it valid without a diagnosis?
Is self-identifying as Autistic valid without a diagnosis? A grounded look at diagnostic access, accuracy and who gets missed.
Finding Autistic community: why it matters and how to start
Why Autistic community protects wellbeing, how to find it online or in person, what a good space looks like, and gentle low-energy ways to take part.
Autistic mental health: why the environment matters as much as you do
Why Autistic mental health is shaped by environment, masking, stigma and burnout, not just by the individual, and what actually helps. A guide for Autistic people.