CAMHS animated stories: Tips on how to support young autistic people

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) have worked with children and young people, their families and other professionals to develop a collection of animated stories that give you tips on how to support young autistic people.

Useful for parents and carers, the stories provide a general overview about what autism is and helpful ways to support your child’s needs.

Autism is a lifelong spectrum condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.

Autism presents itself differently in people, and no one’s expression of autism is the same. Some autistic people will have high support needs, which means they require full time adjustments and support. Some may need mild support with day to day activities while others live fully independent lives.

Like anyone, autistic people have a range of strengths and challenges, but the person could experience difficulties with:

Social communication and interaction

Adapting communication

In some cases, alternative methods of communication need to be established. This video helps you consider how the autistic young person is going to communicate with you as well as how you communicate with them.

Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities

Building a rapport and creating an autistic space

Whilst the healthcare environment can be challenging for all patients, it can be particularly difficult for an autistic person to cope with. This story looks at specific ways you can build rapport and make necessary adjustments, such as environmental sounds and smells.

How to use ABC charts

ABC charts help us to assess what the behaviour is trying to communicate so we can establish effective support tools. This video looks at how to analyse specific support needs using an ABC format for autistic children.

Executive function, which means they struggle with planning, organising or regulating

How to support an autistic person when experiencing a meltdown, shutdown or burnout

Meltdowns and shutdowns are not something autistic people can control. Understanding this can help both you and the young person navigate these moments.

Sensory processing and sensitives

Introducing sensory boxes

Whilst a neurotypical person might be minimally affected by sensory activity, for an autistic person, sensory processes can be particularly tricky things to navigate. This video looks at how sensory processing for an autistic individual can be beneficially impacted through the use of sensory boxes.

Autism Roadmap

These videos are also available in the Autism Roadmap.

The roadmap offers advice and guidance about some of the challenges autistic people and their families may face and how our services can help, including the different types of support available at CNWL.

Topics include attention and listening, communication and language, sensory, eating habits, toileting, sleep, mental health and more.

The Autism Roadmap is available here.