Autism resources
This article covers resources which may be useful to people with autism and/or their parents or carers. It includes recommended reading, videos, and training for people working with individuals with autism.
Further information on Autism Spectrum Condition is available in a separate article.
Page contents:
- Autism reading list
- Autism videos
- Resources for schools and education settings
- Training for adult service providers in South Gloucestershire
Autism reading list
The South Gloucestershire library service and South Gloucestershire Autism Planning Group recommend a number of books you might find helpful if you are living with autism or Asperger’s, or know someone who is.
The books provide information and advice including support for living well, advice for relatives and carers, and personal stories.
Some of these titles are available from your local library. Books are available for an extended loan period of six weeks. If the book you want is unavailable you can reserve it free of charge.
You can also use the LibrariesWest website to search for books held in any of the partnership libraries. Reservation charges may apply.
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Author |
Title |
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General books about autism |
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Donna Williams |
Autism – an inside-out approach (a practical handbook) |
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Temple Grandin |
Temple talks about autism and sensory issues (an overview and tips) |
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Tony Attwood |
The complete guide to Asperger’s syndrome (the definitive guide)
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For parents |
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Joshua Muggleton |
Raising Martians (help your child with Asperger’s) |
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Bill Nason |
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Kari Dunn Buron and Mitzi Curtis |
Incredible 5-point Scale: Assisting students in understanding social interactions and controlling their emotional responses |
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Carol Gray |
Comic Strip Conversations: Illustrated interactions that teach conversation skills to students with autism and related disorders |
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Siobhan Timmins and Carol Gray |
Successful Social Stories for Young Children with Autism: Growing Up with Social Stories |
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For children |
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Louise Gorrod |
My brother is different (for younger children) |
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Katy Hoopmann |
Inside Asperger’s looking out (for family, friends and classmates) |
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Kari Dunn Buron |
When my worries get to big: A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety |
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For teenagers |
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Luke Jackson |
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Shana Nichols |
Girls growing up on the autistic spectrum (for girls and their parents) |
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For women |
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Robyn Steward |
The Independent Woman’s Handbook for Super Safe Living on the Autistic Spectrum (will help you to stay safe whilst living life to the full) |
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Personal stories |
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Liane Holliday Willey |
Pretending to be normal: living with Asperger’s Syndrome (one of first female autobiographies) |
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Naoki Higashida |
The reason I jump (written by non-verbal 13 year old) |
The National Autistic Society also features every title currently published by them on their website shop. To find a particular resource, select a relevant sub-category or use the search feature.
Autism videos
The following are videos about learning disability and autism. These include the stories of real people which may be useful to people with learning disabilities or autism, their families, or professionals working within the health and social care sector.
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Transforming care videos Transforming Care is all about improving the lives of people with learning disability and/or autism who display behaviours that are described as challenging. We know that when people are empowered to live the way they choose and are involved in planning their support and care they have better lives.
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Transforming Care is all about improving the lives of people with learning disability and/or autism who display behaviours that are described as challenging. We know that when people are empowered to live the way they chose and are involved in planning their support and care they have better lives.
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Members of the Transforming Care empowerment steering group tell their stories.
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Phill (Josh’s dad) gives his perspective of Josh’s move home to Cornwall. In the film Phill describes how the whole family has been empowered as a result of the good support that Josh is getting in the community.
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Lucy and her Mum describe how Lucy has been empowered to live the life she wants, including through choosing her own home and her own staff team, and learning to travel independently.
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Peter talks about being empowered to live the life he wants, including through choosing his own home and décor, looking after his pets and being able to get out and about when he wants to.
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Derek talks about the importance of having the right support around him so that he can live independently and stay safe and well. He is empowered to live the life he wants and has a job that he enjoys and opportunities to learn new skills.
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Jason talks about his role as a self-advocate and the importance of people with a learning disability being empowered to have a voice. He talks about being able to do the things that he likes to do and feels proud of his achievements.
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Other videos |
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Videos from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE): Working with people with autism: the autistic perspective NIHR ARC West and Autism Independence: a series of short films about autism, aimed at the Somali and other black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. |
Resources for schools and education settings
The council have produced the following toolkits to help education settings and schools support children and young people with autism:
- Autism toolkit for early years settings
- Autism toolkit for primary schools
- Autism toolkit for secondary schools
Training for adult service providers in South Gloucestershire
A requirement of the National Autism Strategy is that frontline public service staff access training in autism awareness to ensure their service delivery meets national standards and expectations of quality.
The South Gloucestershire Council Workforce Development team provide access to training courses for South Gloucestershire Council employees and local organisations. Below are details on courses that are available to any agency who come into contact with adults with autism in their work, and staff who support individuals with autism.
The training is provided by Bristol Autism Spectrum Service and co-ordinated by South Gloucestershire Council on behalf of the local Autism Planning Group (APG). There are discounted costs for places on these courses available to non-council agencies, e.g. in the local Independent, Voluntary and Private Sector Sector. The South Gloucestershire Learning and Development website has details. Use the “Search Events” button and enter “autism” into the Keyword field to find upcoming course dates and availability.
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Course name |
Details |
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Introduction to Autism: 3-hour workshop
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Event description This 3-hour introductory course is suitable for staff who could be in contact with individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions.
Learning outcomes Participants should:
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Autism Spectrum Conditions: 1-day Training
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Event description This 1-day course is suitable for all staff who are in regular contact with individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions.
Previous delegates have said:
Learning outcomes Participants should:
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Autism Awareness: Day 2 Training for Social Workers
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This 1-day course is specifically for social work practitioners responsible for assessing the needs of autistic adults. Issues in assessment: Assessment: Learning outcomes The course will enable delegates to:
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