services – Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

A little girl happily eating a slice of watermelon on a sunny day, with juice dripping down her chin

The Feeding Difficulties in Young Children: A Policy and Practice Framework

The Feeding Difficulties Conceptual Framework provides a structure for multidisciplinary collaboration, supporting individualised, context-sensitive, family-centred, and inclusive care. Early, evidence-based, individualised support can transform feeding into a foundation for better…

Alex Haschek September 24, 2025

Two woman and a child are sitting on a bed, engaging with a tablet together

Identification and diagnosis

What’s the best way to support autistic kids with “mild to moderate” delay?

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Authored by David Trembath, Andrew Whitehouse and Kandice Varcin.

Jake Mulligan September 9, 2025

An adult and teen sit together on a couch, focused on a laptop in front of them

Ask an Autism Researcher Teaching and learning with Autism Transition

Autistic teens transitioning from high school

For Autistic young people, finding the right path after high school can feel overwhelming. If university isn’t the best fit, what are the other options?

Alex Haschek October 16, 2024

A woman and a child sitting together, focused on using a laptop in a cozy indoor setting

Autism supports Identification and diagnosis Supports and practices for daily living

Seven Essential Tips for Parents Evaluating Autism Interventions

With over 400 therapies and services available, choosing the right autism support for your child can feel overwhelming. How do you navigate this growing landscape of options? In this post, we share seven essential tips to help parents evaluate autism supports, from identifying daily living needs to understanding diagnosis practices.

Alex Haschek March 31, 2023

Speech therapist sitting on a couch with a client with one hand on the jay explaining a movement

Ask an Autism Researcher Autism supports Supports and practices for daily living

Supporting speech development in minimally-verbal Autistic adults

Can Autistic adults learn to speak? The answer isn't clear due to limited research. While some may develop speech, outcomes vary. A speech pathologist can assess both verbal and non-verbal communication, increasing the chances of success.

mdenham June 22, 2016

Ask an Autism Researcher Family wellbeing Health and wellbeing

When to tell a child

My four year-old child has just been diagnosed with high functioning autism. She knows that something is happening (doctor visits, tests, etc). How and when should she be told about her ASD?

mdenham October 8, 2015

Autism supports Study summary Supports and practices for daily living

Translating evidence-based supports into effective childcare programs for young Autistic children – yes we can!

There is increasing evidence that intensive implementation of educational programs can be efficacious in improving outcomes in young children with autism. One of the most promising early support programs is the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a play-based support program specifically targeting the educational needs of preschoolers with autism. Research conducted in the US indicates that the program is efficacious in the context of intensive individual home treatment.

otarc June 30, 2014

A woman sits on a bed comforting a child wearing a purple hoodie closed over their face.

Ask an Autism Researcher Educational and vocational engagement Teaching and learning with Autism

School refusal

Learn how psychologists, speech pathologists, and educators collaborate to support Autistic children in school.

mdenham June 26, 2013