Ruth Jacobs

When we think about autism, people often focus on communication or sensory differences, but an area that doesn’t get as much consideration is social imagination. Social imagination is essentially the ability to imagine different possibilities, predict outcomes, or picture life beyond current circumstances. For many autistic young people, particularly those also experiencing mental health difficulties such as eating disorders, self-harm, or anxiety, this can make change feel incredibly scary...

Starting difficult conversations with young people can feel incredibly daunting, especially when the topic is something as sensitive as self-harm, eating difficulties, or emotional distress. It’s completely natural to feel unsure, worried about saying the wrong thing, or even afraid of what you might hear. But these conversations are so important. Avoiding them can leave young people feeling like there isn't anyone safe to talk to, while approaching them with care can open a space for...

It’s really easy to feel frustrated if your young person constantly avoids what seem like simple requests; getting out of bed on time, starting homework before the last minute, or replying when you ask them how their day was. It’s easy to assume they’re being difficult or lazy. But there’s almost always a reason behind demand avoidance, and it usually comes back to anxiety, overwhelm, or fear about the task itself rather than stubbornness. We all avoid things sometimes! When was the last time...