ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. People on the autism spectrum may have difficulties with social communication, social interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests.

  • Meng-Chuan Lai

    Autism: Camouflaging and Masking — Evidence and Clinical Implications

    Explore the latest evidence on camouflaging and masking in autism, including developmental considerations, clinical debates, and implications for assessment and support. Led by expert Associate Professor Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai.

    Event type
    Advanced session
    Location
    Online
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  • Autism concept. Lonely little boy covering his ears outdoors

    Trauma and Autism: How It Affects Children and Young People

    Autistic children and young people are more likely to experience adversity and traumatic events than their non-autistic peers. Yet, trauma is often missed in autism. Why? Professor Francisco Musich explains.

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  • Ashley Liew

    Meet the expert: Co-occurring conditions in children with intellectual disabilities, with Dr. Ashley Liew

    On 11 and 18 June 2026, ACAMH will host a short course Assessment and Management of Intellectual Disability and Co-occurring Conditions. We caught up with one of the speakers, Dr. Ashley Liew, Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychiatrist at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, about the topic, the state of the field, and what attendees can expect.

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  • Kind mother helping her son doing homework in kitchen. Children's creativity. Portrait of smiling mother helping son with homework in kitchen at home

    Experience-Sensitive Approach to Neurodivergence

    Clinical environments are often organised around neurotypical/general population expectations of communication, attention, pacing, and sensory tolerance. For neurodivergent people, including autistic individuals, people with ADHD, these expectations can increase distress, reduce engagement, and shape how behaviour is interpreted by clinicians.

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  • Helen Minnis

    Maltreatment, Trauma-Related Disorders, and Their Interplay with Neurodivergence

    Prof Helen Minnis leads a session about the trauma and stressor related disorders of childhood, known as Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED). These are disorders thought to be ‘caused’ by maltreatment (abuse and neglect). We aim to raise your awareness about RAD & DSED and to enable you with the skills to recognise associated behaviours in children and young people who you work.

    Event type
    Advanced session
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  • Rachel Bryant-Waugh

    ARFID in Autistic Young People: Assessment, Overlap and Practical Clinical Management

    Explore ARFID and autism in this expert webinar on assessment and treatment strategies for children and young people. Learn how autism‑related traits shape eating behaviour and how to deliver effective, evidence‑based support across health and education settings. Dr. Rachel Bryant-Waugh leads this advanced online event.

    Event type
    Update session
    Location
    LIVE STREAM
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  • young girl drawing at a desk

    What Is Autism Now?

    Autism was first described as a clinical condition in the mid-twentieth century and was long considered of low prevalence. Since the 1990s, autism prevalence has increased substantially, particularly in high-income countries. This rise has prompted public and professional debate, including concerns of over-diagnosis and suggestions of an “autism epidemic.” Current research and conceptual analysis suggest that these interpretations are not supported by the available evidence. Instead, changes in diagnostic practices, alongside shifts in social, educational, and economic environments, have reshaped how autism is recognised and understood.

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  • Eleanor Leigh

    Meet the expert: Practical techniques for managing social anxiety in everyday clinical work, with Dr. Eleanor Leigh

    We caught up with Dr. Eleanor Leigh, Associate Professor and MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow at the University of Oxford, to talk about practical techniques for managing social anxiety in everyday clinical work.

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  • 16

    Autism and ADHD: diagnosis and demand in neurodevelopmental care. Emanuel Miller International Online Conference

    This conference will explore current debates around autism and ADHD, focusing on how scientific evidence, diagnostic practices, and rising demand for assessment intersect within contemporary neurodevelopmental care. Bringing together leading experts, the programme will examine how changes in diagnostic frameworks, service pressures, and social contexts shape who receives a diagnosis, when, and with what implications for young people, families, and services.

    Event type
    Emanuel Miller International Conference
    Location
    LIVE STREAM
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  • Erin Schoenfelder Gonzalez

    Mastering meltdowns and big feelings with Associate Professor Erin Gonzalez

    We caught up with the presenter – Associate Professor Dr. Erin Gonzalez, a clinical psychologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital – about the topic itself, her career, and her hopes for the event.

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