Autism and Sensory Needs

Evidence-informed guides to autism and sensory needs, with practical help for parents, families, teachers and daycare workers.

Start with the guide to sound sensitivity below. It explains differences between sound intolerance and overload, ways non-verbal children can communicate discomfort, and adjustments to discuss with family members, teachers and daycare workers. It also separates everyday support from treatments that need an individual professional assessment.

A mother listens to her child away from a busy group.

Halloween and Sensory Sensitivities: Planning a Night at Your Child’s Pace

Your child has been talking about their costume for weeks. They know which character they want to be and have already chosen their candy bag. Then Halloween arrives. The costume’s neckline feels uncomfortable under a coat, a neighbour’s decoration suddenly starts shrieking, and your child asks to go home after two houses. Their excitement was real. So is their discomfort. Halloween brings together experiences that are usually spread across different settings: unfamiliar clothing, crowded...

Autism, Sound Sensitivity and Sensory Overload: A Guide for Parents and Families

Understand autism and sound sensitivity, support non-verbal children, and find practical steps for families, schools and daycare from toddlerhood through teens.