Reframing Autism

15/10/2026

We're excited to share this important research opportunity from Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, inviting Autistic young people aged 8–17 across Australia to share what matters most to them, and what they believe researchers should be focusing on to help improve the lives of Autistic young people. 🫶

We want to know what Autistic young people in Australia think is important.

We want to know what they think people should learn more about to make life better for Autistic young people.

What they say will help researchers learn what to study in the future. All answers will be private and will not be shared.

What young people tell us will also help the Australian Autism Knowledge Hub decide what work to do next.

Young people are eligible to participate if they:
- Live in Australia
- Identify as Autistic
- Are aged 8 to 17 years

Taking part means filling out a brief survey for parents and an 8-question survey for young people which will take about 20 minutes. All answers will be private and will not be shared

Please consider helping researchers work out where they need to focus their work. The answers we receive will directly shape the work of the Australian Autism Knowledge Hub.

Link: https://accessiblesurveys.com/v2/kgTRh87U6hLrWyEerh8i



[image description: A promotional graphic for “Our Lives, Our Future”. The design features the La Trobe University and Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre logos, with text reading: “What young people tell us will help shape future autism research in Australia.” An illustration shows four hands holding smartphones displaying messages, a video call and an email. A link reads bit.ly/AutismHubYouth. The graphic also includes ethical approval and researcher contact information at the bottom.]

14/10/2026

With the arrival of the final school term of the year in Australia, it's important to reflect on what genuine inclusion should look like, for Autistic students and their families.

For Autistic students, school should be a place where they feel safe, understood and valued for who they are.

Yet all too often, Autistic children feel pressured to mask within the school environment, which takes an enormous toll on their emotional health and wellbeing.

Autistic parents, too, can find themselves navigating school environments where they feel they must mask their own Autistic identity to be heard, respected or taken seriously, whilst also tirelessly advocating for their child and navigating barriers and challenges that often stand in the way of meaningful support.

Let's be mindful of the needs and experiences of both Autistic students and Autistic parents, extending understanding, compassion and support to one another wherever possible. Sometimes, even the smallest gesture of kindness can have a far greater impact on someone's life than we may ever realise.



[ID: Against a magenta background, with the Reframing Autism logo at the top and the colourful knotwork in the lower right corner, white text reads, 'An Autistic student shouldn’t have to mask their autism to belong. An Autistic parent shouldn’t have to mask their autism to advocate'. Beneath the text is an image of a mother sitting on the floor in a doorway, comforting her child who is sitting in her lap.]

13/10/2026

📢 Does the sound of chewing, tapping or sniffing leave you feeling overwhelmed or enraged?

For someone with misophonia (translated from Greek as "hatred of sound"), a sound that others barely notice can trigger an intense, involuntary emotional and physical response. It can affect relationships, social activities and the places where someone feels comfortable spending time.

Misophonia is more prevalent in the Autistic population, with a 2025 systematic review indicating a prevalence of between 12.8 % to 35.5 % https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40209614/

♾️ Today, we’re revisiting Autistic advocate, Suzanne Roman's guest blog on navigating misophonia in daily life:
https://reframingautism.org.au/living-with-misophonia-i-love-you-but-i-hate-the-noises-you-make/

: How do you experience sound?



[ID: A Reframing Autism graphic with a teal background. Large white text reads: “I’m not just merely annoyed when someone is chewing loudly. I am filled with blood-boiling rage to the point where I feel like running away or crying. – Autistic advocate, Suzanne Roman” Below the quote, a person in a black shirt presses their hands over their ears and grimaces. The Reframing Autism logo appears at the top, with the infinity knotwork quandrant logo in the bottom left corner.]

11/10/2026

Communication is a basic human right. Everyone deserves the time, support and opportunity to express themselves in the way that works for them.

This Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month, we’re celebrating by revisiting non-speaking Autistic advocate, Ben Kingston's powerful guest blog in which he highlights how AAC is not just about devices, systems or therapy. It’s about those around non-speakers presuming competence and providing opportunities.

♾️ Read Ben’s blog, 'The Right to Be Heard: Reclaiming Communication, Competence and Control' here: https://reframingautism.org.au/the-right-to-be-heard-reclaiming-communication-competence-and-control/



[ID: A square graphic with an aubergine background and the Reframing Autism logo. White text quotes non-speaking Autistic advocate Ben Kingston: “The opportunity to communicate is just as important as the communication systems themselves, as I would not be able to communicate my thoughts if Mum and others in my life did not believe that I had something to say.” Below the quote is a photo of Ben, who has red hair and a beard and is wearing red ear defenders.]

06/10/2026

When school isn’t working, how do you decide what comes next?

For some of our Autistic children and their families, the answer might be a different school. For others, it might be homeschooling. Often, the decision comes after a long period of trying to make the current arrangement work.

We’re gathering community insights for a Reframing Autism blog about these school pivots. If you’ve been through one, we’d love to hear what helped you make the decision and what you learnt along the way.

🔶 What told you it was time to consider a change?
🔶 What did you wish you’d known before changing schools or starting homeschooling?
🔶 What helped your child through the transition?
🔶 What has worked well, and what has been harder than expected?

Please share your experience in 1-2 sentences in the comments below or DM us so we can include a range of perspectives.

Please note:
ℹ️ While we can’t guarantee every comment will be featured as experiences may be similar, we value each submission and it will remain on our socials for our followers to benefit from.
ℹ️ Please leave out names and identifying details about children, schools or staff.
ℹ️ Your comfort in sharing is essential. Feel free to DM us and request a pseudonym in order to share your thoughts privately.

📚️ By pooling what we’ve learnt, we hope to offer some reassurance and practical ideas to families wondering what to do when school isn’t working.



[ID: A square graphic with an aubergine background. The colourful Reframing Autism logo appears at the top, above two overlapping white speech bubble outlines. Large white text reads: “When school isn’t working, how do you decide what comes next?”]

05/10/2026

We’re excited to share Thriving Autistically, a wonderful free online wellbeing event from our friends at Neurokindred. 💜

Running until Saturday 10 October, Thriving Autistically brings together a range of sessions focused on Autistic wellbeing, connection and thriving.

The event is free and online, so you can join from wherever you are.

✨ Find out more and access the event here:
https://neurokindred.com/thriving-autistically-2026/

🌱Thriving Autistically: Online Wellbeing Event for Autistic Adults 2026
Our 'Bazaar of Autistic Delights' centres Lived Experience and Connection to Neurokin through play, social justice, experiential spaces, peer support, discussion & SpIns.
It also showcases Autistic social entrepreneurs (short promo at end of each session) and their amazing innovations, products and services.

When: Saturday 3rd – Saturday 10th October (Brisbane-AEST)
8 days
31 Events + Art Exhibition & Watch Party
Prize Draw-'Spin the Wheel' after every session
All sessions are free, Autistic-led and online.

We are recording main sessions this year so attendees can watch sessions in a time that aligns during the event.

Thriving Autistically 2026: https://neurokindred.com/thriving-autistically-2026/
Art Exhibition Submission: https://art.neurokindred.com/
Questions and support: [email protected]

Day 6 Thursday 8th October (Daylight Savings):

EFT Tapping Topics with Melody Edwardson of Wellbeing Wise
10:00-11:15am (Brisbane AEST-check your timezone)
Prize: Drank Enough Water Today Jubly-Umph pin

Melodic Mantras with Melody Edwardson and Laura Walker of Marnie Bee Mindful
6:00-7:00pm (Brisbane AEST-check your timezone)
Prize: Have The Day You Deserve Jubly-Umph pin

F@ck the Patriarchy: Autistic Feminism Discussion Group with Dr Simone Kolysh of Defiant Life Coaching
7:00-8:30pm (Brisbane AEST-check your timezone)
Prize: Relentless B*tch and Not Demure Just Hostile Jubly-Umph pins

05/10/2026

📅 When the school routine disappears, an unplanned day at home can feel uncertain for some Autistic kids. And for parents juggling work, caring, life admin (and their own dysregulation!), filling every hour isn’t realistic.

Our new article shares small ways to give a holiday day some shape: familiar anchors, a project to return to, the art of body doubling and rest that belongs on the plan too. Take what works for your family and leave the rest.

♾️ Read it here: https://reframingautism.org.au/giving-school-holidays-some-shape-ideas-for-autistic-kids-who-need-structure/

What helps holidays feel manageable in your home? Share your own ideas in the comments so other families can try them too.



[ID: Reframing Autism graphic with a teal background and white text: “Include the unremarkable things. ‘Mum does some work while I build Lego’ is still useful information. A schedule doesn’t have to be exciting to be reassuring.” Below, an overhead photograph shows a woman and child sitting beside a paper calendar, with the woman pointing to it. The Reframing Autism logo appears at the top and the colourful knotwork quadrant is at the bottom left.]

01/10/2026

Autistic Australians are over-represented in all areas of our criminal and youth justice systems. Autistic young people are particularly vulnerable to restrictive responses, creating a pathway towards higher reoffending rates.

Reframing Autism has been working on Autism In-Justice, a strengths-based, trauma-informed, neuro-affirming training program for youth justice staff.

Yesterday, Amelia Wright, one of our Project Leads at Reframing Autism, presented at the Australasian Youth Justice Conference. As an Autistic-led charity, we offer lived experience and insights that bring about systemic change. This conference has continued a dialogue between key stakeholders across the country to ensure the Autistic perspective is understood.



ID in first comment

29/09/2026

If you care about or work with an Autistic nonspeaker or someone with complex communication support needs, it’s crucial to learn from other nonspeaking Autistic people who have found ways to communicate.

Many people have heard of the idea of presuming competence, but there seems to be much less understanding of what this actually means in practice. A favourite quote from this article explains:

"Presuming competence means doing things like reading literature or school textbooks out loud, holding real conversations that are age appropriate (even if nonspeakers can’t respond), and meaningfully involving nonspeakers in whatever is going on. "

Thank you Jace Pooley and Autism Spectrum News for this informative article.

Nonspeaking autistic self-advocate Jace Pooley shares how presuming competence transforms lives and calls for communication access for all.

28/09/2026

💬 🗨️ Have you ever responded to someone's story by immediately sharing a similar story of your own?

From the outside, this can look like interrupting, oversharing or ‘making it all about ourselves’. But what if it’s actually an act of empathy?

Autistic neuroscience and trauma researcher Janae Smith calls these exchanges ‘SAME Stories’: searching our own experiences for something that matches the shape of yours and offering it back to say: I recognise this. You’re not alone.

Our latest blog explores SAME Stories, ‘au-mpathy’, and the wonderfully Autistic ways we connect through shared experience. (And what happens when two SAME storytellers accidentally enter a game of ‘Oversharing Chicken’. 😅)

♾️ Read 'Me, Too: The Au-mpathic Art of Sharing SAME Stories': https://reframingautism.org.au/me-too-the-au-mpathic-art-of-sharing-same-stories/



[ID: 1. An aubergine background with The Reframing Autism logo in the top left. Underneath is a white title, “Me, Too: The Au-mpathic Art of Sharing SAME Stories”, followed by “Written by Emma*” and “Available to read at reframingautism.org.au/resources”. A section of the colourful Reframing Autism infinity-loop quadrant decorates the bottom-right corner. 2. An aubergine background with The Reframing Autism logo in the top left. Underneath is a white quote reading: “When I tell a SAME story, I’m not trying to make your story about me. I’m saying: ‘I recognise this. I know something of this feeling. You’re not alone.’” Beneath the quote is a photo of two people sitting together in conversation.]