Neurodiversity Resources for Parents and Carers

Supporting a neurodiverse child or young person can feel overwhelming—but you are not alone. This guide brings together local, online, legal, and educational resources, plus recommended reading and podcasts, to help you find the information and community support you need.

1. Online Support

Dr Naomi Fisher (Clinical Psychologist)

· Offerings: Live webinars, on-demand training sessions, downloadable guides

· Find out more: Follow Dr Naomi Fisher on Facebook for announcements and links

BEAT Eating Disorders

· Offerings: Guides, toolkits and fact sheets supporting young people with disordered eating · Resources: Downloads and Resources – Beat

Scottish Autism

· Offerings: Information sheets, workshops, and family support programmes · More info: About Autism | Scottish Autism

ARC Scotland – The specialists in health and social care

https://www.autismcentreofexcellence.org/partnerships/education/

2. Education & Legal Advice

ENQUIRE

· What: Scotland’s advice service for additional support for learning

· Services: Free telephone and email advice, guides on rights and processes · Website: Enquire

3. Recommended Reading

1. How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child by Jessie Hewitson

2. Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World by Deborah Reber (audio available)

3. The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine N. Aron

4. The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene (audio available)

4. Podcasts

Full Tilt Parenting with Debbie Reber

· About: Real-world conversations on parenting neurodiverse kids

· Where to listen: Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major platforms

5. Movement breaks, Sensory Breaks and 'Heavy Work Activities' can be useful to help inidividuals with ASD/ADHD/SPD regulate at home or school

https://www.theottoolbox.com/brain-breaks/

Heavy Work Activities - The OT Toolbox

https://teachingautism.co.uk/movement-breaks-what-and-why/

6. Poor Sleep (Children)

Sleep Action (Formerly Sleep Scotland) has useful resources on their website, but also provide free sleep support/courses for parents

https://sleepaction.org/

7. Access Card

Parents of children with additional support needs often find they pay into something (eg. cinema) but have to leave either immediately or early due to sensory or other issues.

The Access Card provides free admission to an adult caregiver to the Access Card holder for certain activities, entry to certain attractions and can helpful for parts of holidays.

Access Card: Making access easy