Articles Autisticrealms Neurodivergent Mental Health Education SEN

Autistic parent and teacher advocating for a better understanding of neurodivergence and mental health in education

My writing reflects my own experiences and thoughts.

I write about my personal journey and the understanding I have gained so far about

autism, education and mental health.

If you have any questions, please contact me.
autisticrealms@gmail.com

Articles

Supporting pupils through Autistic Burnout (Teacher Guide)

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Feb 10
16 min

Supporting pupils through Autistic Burnout (Teacher Guide)

This article discusses what Autistic Burnout may look like & how you can support young people & their families within educational settings.

Supporting Children through Autistic Burnout (Parent/Carer Guide)

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Dec 5, 2022
9 min

Supporting Children through Autistic Burnout (Parent/Carer Guide)

If your child is going through Autistic Burnout, they will need your support. They will need understanding, an increase in sensory regulatio

Language matters, relationships are essential

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Nov 29, 2022
3 min

Language matters, relationships are essential

Communication doesn't always need words, but we do need language to develop understanding around neurodivergence and to advocate for change.

Parent ideas for autistic children struggling with school attendance

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Nov 19, 2022
6 min

Parent ideas for autistic children struggling with school attendance

If your child is autistic, then they are more likely to have additional anxiety, social, communication and sensory processing difficulties.

'Profound autism' does not exist - rather there are autistic individuals with PMLD / PIMD

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Nov 18, 2022
6 min

'Profound autism' does not exist - rather there are autistic individuals with PMLD / PIMD

'Profound autism' does not exist, rather there are autistic individuals with profound and multiple specific needs.

'Profound' in relation to those with PMLD / PIMD

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Nov 17, 2022
7 min

'Profound' in relation to those with PMLD / PIMD

PIMD / PMLD The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Profound Intellectual...

Ideas for Autistic Children who are Struggling at School

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Nov 15, 2022
7 min

Ideas for Autistic Children who are Struggling at School

It can be difficult for autistic children to access an appropriate education and challenging for their parents to navigate the various...

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Aug 16
8 min

Monotropism, Autism & OCD

Exploring similarities and differences between Autistic and OCD monotropic flow states. Can attention tunnels freeze and thoughts get stuck?

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Aug 15
6 min

The Elephant in the Room

We will look at PACE as a way to communicate and discuss 'the elephant in the room' and help make those tricky conversations a bit easier.

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Jul 30
2 min

Building a Family Sensory Toolkit

Try to be a Sensory Detective and consider what sensory input you, your child or your young person may be struggling with. Also, think about

Monotropism Questionnaire & Inner Autistic/ADHD Experiences

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Jul 28
9 min

Monotropism Questionnaire & Inner Autistic/ADHD Experiences

The results from the Monotropism Questionnaire could help validate people's feelings. Knowing they have a monotropic mind could help people

Transitions - Supporting young people throughout the day

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Jul 19
6 min

Transitions - Supporting young people throughout the day

Reducing the number of demands and transitions an autistic / PDA person has to manage daily will help reduce anxiety.

Monotropism and Experiences of being Monotropic

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Jul 9
11 min

Monotropism and Experiences of being Monotropic

Monotropism is increasingly considered to be the underlying principle behind autism and is becoming more widely recognised.

Book review - Autistic Burnout, Children /Young People in Education by Viv Dawes

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Jun 26
4 min

Book review - Autistic Burnout, Children /Young People in Education by Viv Dawes

Supporting young people through autistic burnout requires a holistic approach that prioritizes a deep understanding of autistic identity,

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Jun 26
5 min

Energy Beans & Sensory Summer Holidays

Family holidays and days out are a great way to spend time together and can create lasting memories.

Autistic & OCD - Autistic Dream Realms Project (May 2023)

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

May 22
2 min

Autistic & OCD - Autistic Dream Realms Project (May 2023)

OCD commonly co-occurs amongst autistic people; research from 2015 found that 17% of autistic people also had OCD.

Penguin Pebbling - An Autistic Love Language

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Apr 30
3 min

Penguin Pebbling - An Autistic Love Language

Penguins pass pebbles to other penguins to show they care. Penguin Pebbling is a little exchange between two people to show that they care

Autism Strengths & Challenges Papyrus Autism Acceptance Week 2023

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Apr 2
3 min

Autism Strengths & Challenges Papyrus Autism Acceptance Week 2023

Autism is not an illness or a disorder, it is a different way of thinking and responding. It is important to value differences.

Low Demand Parenting (for the whole family)

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Apr 2
4 min

Low Demand Parenting (for the whole family)

If you are also autistic and have neurodivergent children it can feel even more overwhelming at times. A low demand approach may help.

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Mar 31
9 min

Autism & OCD - What Could Help

OCD obsessions & compulsions = disabling (negative) Autistic routines & rituals = enabling (positive)

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Mar 26
9 min

Monotropism = Happy Flow State

Monotropism is like a force that draws you into a specific channel of interest, much like a river, it has momentum.

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Mar 21
12 min

Autism is fluid

Autism is fluid and everyone has different needs. We need compassion and understanding to develop deep and meaningful connections.

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Mar 18
7 min

Neurodivergent Friendly Classrooms

There are many ways to make schools and classrooms neurodiversity affirming and neurodivergent friendly. Teachers need to be flexible

Supporting neurodivergent students who are struggling to attend school

Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms)

Mar 7
7 min

Supporting neurodivergent students who are struggling to attend school

Everyone deserves an education, but more importantly every child and family deserve to feel understood, validated and supported.