Family Development

Made possible from a wealth of experience gathered over four decades serving the North-east we’ve created a Family Resources website just for you.

Brought together by our Family Development team, members of our Neurodiversity think tank and from families sending us their tips and advice we’ve put together a bank of free resources to help you, as part of our valued community, to navigate the day-to-day challenges of life.

Staying Safe

Staying safe is paramount for all of us and as family members one of your main priorities will be to keep your family member safe and well. In this section we explore some of the difficulties autistic people may encounter when trying to stay safe and things you can consider to support them.

Online safety

Stranger danger

Road safety

Introduction to cyberbullying

Bullying

Herbert Protocol

Latest

First lambs born at New Warlands Farm

As the sun finally comes out for May, we welcome the first new arrivals to our flock at New Warlands Farm.
Five things to know about autistic mental health and exercise

Dr Patrick Jachyra, of Durham University, explains why a 10-minute walk a day can make big changes to the brain and support our mental health.
Artist holds fundraising raffle for original painting

Paul Alderson is raising money for a cause close to his heart and benefiting the North East Autism Society with his painting of the iconic Sycamore Gap.
Runner benefits NEAS with first marathon

Barnaby Howard raised over £1,000 to support our lifeline services when he ran his first marathon in Geneva.

Seasonal Resources

Seasonal periods can be challenging for many autistic people, with changes to the environment and the hustle and bustle these periods can bring.
Diet and Nutrition

Diet and nutrition are a key element of everyone's lives, but we know that for autistic people this can create challenges.
Transitions

Transitions are a part of everyday life, some examples include bigger transitions like moving house or starting a new school to smaller transitions such as moving from one task to another in the classroom.
Toileting

Toileting challenges are often common in autistic people and an area that many families often feel they need more support with.
Sleep

Sleep is an essential process for every human being; not getting enough if it can have detrimental effects on the whole family’s wellbeing.
Sensory

Our senses are the window into the world and they are vital to help us understand and make sense of what is happening in the world around us.
Puberty

Puberty can be a challenge for anybody but for autistic people neurological differences may make this chapter in life harder to navigate.
Out and About

For many parents/carers taking their family member out and about in the community can be a big worry. These worries could arise from a multitude of different factors.
Navigating the System

Here you can find key information that will help you day-to-day. From grants to access, to free equipment, this is the one-stop resource to explore all that is potentially available to you.
Executive Functioning

Executive functioning differences are present in all people but research tells us that autistic people may have greater differences with executive functioning than non-autistic people.

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Everyday Equality Campaign

We are highlighting the lived experiences of autistic and neurodivergent people in five areas of everyday life: education, health, travel, employment and finance. That’s why we’re calling the campaign Everyday Equality. Read more