RESOURCES & ARTICLES
At Autism Consultancy Services, we believe that knowledge and understanding are powerful tools for supporting neurodivergent children and teens. Our Resources page is designed to provide parents, educators, and caregivers with practical guides, tools, and information to help you feel confident and empowered in your journey.
INFO SHEETS
Creating a Sensory-Friendly Home
Meltdowns vs. Shutdowns
Social & Emotional Capacity Building Activities
Child Centred Play Therapy
NEURO-AFFIRMING BOOKS
Looking for books about autism, adhd, PDA, and neurodiversity? We’ve put together a list of our favourites!
OUR LATEST ARTICLES
Exciting Summer School Holiday Program: Neuroaffirming Fun with LEGO & Minecraft!
Exciting Summer School Holiday Program: Neuroaffirming Fun with LEGO & Minecraft! Are you looking for a summer holiday program that is engaging, neuroaffirming, and designed specifically for children who thrive in structured, supportive environments? Autism Consultancy Services (ACS) is hosting a Summer School Holiday Program in Yarraville, featuring LEGO and Minecraft-based activities that build social and emotional capacity in [...]
Understanding Cognitive Diversity: Bottom-Up Thinking in Autistic and Neurodivergent Neurotypes
Every child perceives and understands the world in their own way. For many autistic children, that way is through bottom-up thinking. Instead of starting with a big-picture concept and then noticing details (a common top-down pattern in neurotypical/allistic development), autistic kids often build understanding from the details upward. This means they might notice every speck of dust dancing in [...]
Building a Trust-Based Relationship with Your PDA Child
Parenting a child with a PDA profile can feel like walking a tightrope. You want to guide and protect them, yet traditional parenting techniques often backfire. The key is building a relationship grounded in trust and understanding, rather than control or correction. In this article, we’ll explore what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) really is, why these children aren’t being [...]
PDA vs ODD: What Parents and Educators Need to Know
When a child resists everyday demands, avoids tasks, or exhibits intense emotional reactions, it’s easy to assume they are simply being oppositional. However, for many neurodivergent children, especially those with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), these behaviours are rooted not in defiance but in anxiety, autonomy, and nervous system dysregulation. Differentiating PDA from Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is essential for [...]
Rethinking Challenging Behaviours: The Impact of Neuroaffirming Sensory-Friendly Environments
When a child’s behaviour is intense, unpredictable, or disruptive, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many parents are told their child is “difficult,” “manipulative,” or “non-compliant.” But what if those behaviours aren’t the problem, but a signal? The truth is, what we often call “challenging behaviour” is almost always a response to an environment that isn’t meeting a child’s needs. [...]
Supporting Siblings of Neurodivergent Kids: What Parents Can Do
When one child in a family is neurodivergent—whether autistic, ADHD, or with another neurodevelopmental condition—it often becomes a central focus for the whole family. While the support needs of the neurodivergent child are important, it’s equally vital to consider the experience of their siblings. Siblings often walk a unique path: they love and care deeply, but may also feel [...]
ACS Founder Sarah Hampton on The Bravery Defined Podcast With Annette Jakubowicz
ACS Founder Sarah Hampton in Conversation with Annette Jakubowicz on the Bravery Defined Podcast LISTEN HERE! In this candid and insightful conversation, Sarah Hampton, founder of Autism Consultancy Services, shares her journey of navigating a late ADHD diagnosis alongside dyslexia, and how these experiences shaped her work supporting neurodivergent children and families. She reflects on the challenges of starting [...]