Our latest news
On: 17/11/22 5 minutes
Breast Cancer Awareness Story
Introduction Finding the courage and determination to visit your doctor to talk about a problem that you’re facing is difficult. However,...
On: 04/11/22 3 minutes
Respect and Kindness
The joy of shopping – thanks to an amazing team Following my story about my son James and his trip to the dentist I would like to tell you...
On: 31/10/22 5 minutes
Finding the right environment made all the difference
Liam is my 14-year-old son who is a self-confessed geek and loves all things science related. He was born with cerebral palsy which can mean that he struggles...
On: 29/09/22 3 minutes
Therapist-turned-author’s bittersweet celebration
A Christchurch music therapist and researcher has told how the Ukrainian conflict has tinged the success of her first book’s publication with...
On: 13/09/22
Sensory Toys
My favourite sensory fidget toys. This post is the first of a series about my favourite sensory fidget toys. I’m not going to...
On: 09/09/22 3 minutes
Finley and Brodie's Friendship
Finley and Brodie are two of our Portfield School students who have struck up a heart-warming friendship after Brodie began to express an interest...
On: 07/09/22 5 minutes
Freddie's blog - Letter writing instructions
Letter Writing Instructions 1) Decide who you are going to write to, and address your letter to them. You can simply put the person’s name if you...
On: 07/09/22 8 minutes
Autistic Fiction by Autistic Authors – Young Adult Titles
Many autistic people will have read, or at least heard of, books like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon, or The Rosie Project...
On: 06/09/22 8 minutes
My life might have been very different
The understanding, support and encouragement of others has made a huge difference to who I am today. Long before I received my autism diagnosis there...
On: 05/09/22
My first peer-support group.
I thought I would tell you about my first time at a peer-support group. I suppose this was a few months after my diagnosis, and I had not really had...
On: 25/08/22 4 minutes
Ethan secures a career with aerospace engineering firm
Ethan, one of our Futures Learners with a passion for engineering, was only four days into his work experience when aerospace engineering firm RHH...
On: 22/08/22 4 minutes
Check up, in the car park
My name is Mark, and I have an amazing son called James who just happens to be autistic. He was confirmed as autistic when he was two years old and at...
On: 22/08/22 6 minutes
Patience and understanding
Jennie Chapman, mum of Finley tells how visiting the dentist was made so much easier thanks to the patience and understanding of her dentist. My son...
On: 18/08/22 4 minutes
See Me, Support Me
My son, Liam, is a young adult with autism and intellectual disability. He is verbal, but is challenged by both receptive and expressive language and...
On: 18/08/22 2 minutes
Our new mobile coffee shop, the Brew Crew!
We are very excited to share our new mobile coffee shop, the Brew Crew! 30 Aug 2022 The Brew Crew is a coffee horsebox designed to...
On: 29/07/22 5 minutes
Jacob's Gadgets Gizmos & Autism
Meet 11-year-old Jacob, who has turned his talents and wish to help other autistic children into a thriving business. 4 Aug 2022 The...
On: 20/07/22 6 minutes
My train journey
A little understanding and kindness would have gone a long way My story begins with a flight into London Gatwick very early one morning from a...
On: 18/07/22 5 minutes
My autism, respect it
I just want my autism to be respected. Every five years or so I have the unenviable task of needing to re-confirm my autism to professionals in various...
On: 18/07/22 4 minutes
My sensory experiences
My grandson, Brooke is an autistic child who needs the sensory experience of touching and feeling things to help him learn and develop. This enables him...
On: 20/06/22 2 minutes
Introducing our first Child Ambassador
We are delighted to welcome on board Nevaeh, Autism Unlimited’s first Child Ambassador. 5 Jul 2022 Nevaeh, 12, who is autistic,...
On: 26/05/22 2 minutes
Pepper, Cayden, and Max's Stories
Pepper, Cayden, and Max are students at Portfield School. Here, they share an insight into their autism, hobbies, and experiences. Pepper enjoys hanging...
On: 28/04/22 5 minutes
Malcolm's Insight
Malcolm is currently the Chair of Trustees at Autism Unlimited, bringing a diversity of experience, passion and commitment to help the charity grow and...
On: 28/04/22 8 minutes
Stewart's Insight
Stewart is one of the assistant headteachers at Portfield School, with 20 years of teaching experience across a range of different schools. He shares his...
On: 20/04/22 15 minutes
Luke's Story
Luke is a governor at Portfield School, a carer to his mum, and works at a National Trust café. In addition to caring for his mum, who is physically...
On: 20/04/22 3 minutes
Nevaeh's Story
Nevaeh is a talented 12-year-old singer, and newly appointed child ambassador for Autism Unlimited, who produced a magical performance at the launch of...
On: 20/04/22 15 minutes
Patrick's Story
Diagnosed three years ago at the age of 53, Patrick now works as a specialist mentor for an autism charity in addition to mentoring undergraduate students...
On: 13/04/22 3 minutes
Futures Artist
Art allows a lot of people to express themselves in their own way, nurturing creativity, innovation and dialogue. It is commonly used as a therapeutic...
On: 23/03/22 3 minutes
Maddie's Story
Maddie has been a student at Portfield School for the past 5 years. Alongside her autism, she has Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), which makes daily...
On: 03/03/22 4 minutes
Deborah's Story
Deborah is an artist-in-residence at Portfield School, inspiring students to explore their creative side. While officially diagnosed at 41, she knew...
On: 28/02/22 4 minutes
Tyler's Story
Introducing Tyler - a sixth form student at Portfield School who shares his experiences with autism. Receiving an autism diagnosis can be a moment...
On: 28/02/22 4 minutes
Kai's Story
Kai is a dedicated army cadet and sixth form student at Portfield School, sharing his thoughts on his autism. He has mixed views on autism, noting...
On: 23/02/22 8 minutes
Archie's Story
‘Autism is a slightly different way of the brain functioning. I don’t think it means that you’re really any different to anyone else,...
On: 23/02/22 3 minutes
Crystal's Insight
Crystal is a Community Connector at the Chris Page Centre, providing information and support to autistic adults, children and their families. She offers...
On: 23/02/22 5 minutes
Robert's Story
Robert is a facilities administrator who has worked at Autism Unlimited for the past 8 and a half years. He was diagnosed with autism as a teenager....
On: 23/02/22 5 minutes
Dela's Insight
Dela is an area manager at Autism Unlimited, overseeing support to a number of individuals in the autistic community. Having worked in the health and social...
On: 23/02/22 5 minutes
Michael's Story
Meet Michael – an animal-loving Futures learner at Autism Unlimited, with a diagnosis of autism and ADHD. Futures is a learning programme that...
On: 14/02/22 8 minutes
Sophia's Story
"Autism in itself is not a negative, it is people’s lack of understanding and a lack of support that makes its impact so potentially damaging....
On: 01/02/22 4 minutes
Oliver's Story
Oliver is a 15 year old student at Portfield School with an autism diagnosis, dyspraxia and hypermobility. Discussing autism, he says, ‘Autism...
On: 01/02/22 5 minutes
Fenton's Story
Fenton is a 16 year old student at Portfield School, with an autism diagnosis and a talent for the performing arts. Diagnosed on his 3rd birthday,...
On: 21/01/22 2 minutes
The AU 92 in 92 Challenge
Five colleagues from Autism Unlimited’s Portfied School are taking on an unusual challenge 21 Jan 2022 Five colleagues from...
On: 21/01/22 3 minutes
Sarah's Insight
Sarah has been an ISL at Portfield School for the past 15 years, working closely with both the younger children and the sixth formers. She has been...
On: 16/12/21 3 minutes
Our Christmas Appeal – lending library of books and resources
Our Christmas Appeal – lending library of books and resources 16 December 21 Our Information and Support service provides vital...
On: 22/11/21 2 minutes
Autism Unlimited's pop up fundraising Christmas performance
Join us on 1 December at Christchurch Priory for a night of festive fun! 01 Nov 2021 Join us on 1 December at Christchurch Priory for...
On: 27/10/21 2 minutes
Hadrian’s Wall Trek for autism
Autism Unlimited has teamed up with three other regional autism charities to create this bespoke UK fundraising challenge. 14 Oct 2021 Autism...
On: 27/10/21 3 minutes
New eco-friendly ‘Roundhouse’
We are very happy to share our new eco Roundhouse with you, launched last week. 10 Sep 2021 Coinciding with the return of Portfield School...
On: 27/10/21 5 minutes
Our Autism Journey
Meet Jamie, mum and carer of two autistic boys, Max and Riley, who attend Portfield School. 9 Jun 2021 **Our Autism Journey – Jamie...
On: 27/10/21 3 minutes
Autism Unlimited welcomes a new Director of Adult Services
Paul Thomas will be exploring opportunities to expand our reach and to provide individualised support to more people. 7 Jun 2021 Almost...
On: 27/10/21 4 minutes
Portfield School ‘egg-ceed’ expectations with Autism Awareness Week
Last week students at Portfield School took part in a week of fundraising activities to mark World Autism Awareness Day, raising over £1,600!...
On: 27/10/21 3 minutes
“Accept Our Autism”
To mark World Autism Awareness Day we have launched an Amazon Wish List campaign. 2 Apr 2021 Following the success of our Christmas Wishes...
On: 27/10/21 3 minutes
We welcome first tenants to new supported living property.
Our brand-new supported living home in Christchurch has just opened its doors and welcomed the first two tenants. 1 Mar 2021 Tony and...
On: 22/10/21 8 minutes
My hospital experience
Dismissing my autism was the worst part of a hospital visit A relatively routine exploratory procedure at my local hospital turned into the appointment...
