Neuro-Affirming Courses for Parents & Carers to Support Autistic Young People

These neuro-affirming courses have mostly been designed by Autistic and neurodivergent professionals and offer a valuable insight into lived experience that you may not find on other courses.


Please do your own research to find something that feels right for your family and young person.

This is an evolving list – please contact me with further recommendations.

Autistic Parents UK

Autistic Parents UK CIO was founded in 2020 by Autistic parents seeking connection and support,  born from a deep understanding of the unique challenges Autistic individuals face while navigating parenthood.
They offer regular training, courses, peer support and have resources to support Autistic parent/carers and also professionals.

NeuroBears
(Pandas Online)

NeuroBears have several options of courses designed for young people to find out about being Autistic with their parents/carers. There is also an option for professionals and for educational settings.

Cubs – for under 8 yrs
“NeuroBears Cubs is a ten-minute video broken into seven sections with an accompanying workbook. It is a great place to start conversations with children about neurodivergence. We talk about different types of brains, different environments, sensory systems, and communication and conceptualise ideas around positive self-identity and coping strategies, that your child and safe adults can share at home.”

Neurobears -8-14yrs
“NeuroBears is a course all about the autistic experience developed for, and in collaboration with, autistic young people. Aimed at young autistic people aged 8-14 who are new to understanding their autism. Through NeuroBears we hope to educate and increase young people’s understanding of their autistic experience, and encourage them to share how they experience their autism with safe adults.”


NeuroBears Unpacking Understanding – 14-25+ yrs
“NeuroBears unpacking understanding is approximately 250 videos, 20 hours of neurodivergent affirming content created with 29 neurodivergent experts alongside PANDAS Online’s Nic King. Unpacking understanding is (almost) everything 14-25+ year olds need to know for a happy, comfortable and safe neurodivergent friendly transition to adulthood.”

Ausome Training

Ausome Training offer the Cothú course and lots of other training opportunities for parents/carers and professionals.

Their Cothú course “offers parents a different view of their child, a very human view. It is full of practical tools, exercises and opportunities for growth and relationship building.”

GROVE
Neurodivergent Education and Mentoring

GROVE aspires to be a safe community for Autistic young people to connect through shared interests & experiences.

They support young people’s personal growth by fostering a positive & authentic identity through neuro-affirming mentoring, groups & their  ‘BEING ME: Knowing Myself, Valuing Myself, Being Myself’ group programme.

GROVE also offers webinars for parent/carers and educational training and consultancy.

The Nurture Programme

The Nurturing Autism Programme, developed and delivered by Jodie Isitt, a late diagnosed Autistic adult, and approved by Dr Chloe Farahar from Aucademy, is NOT an “autism course”.

“This is a 5-week programme that guides you out of The Medical Model and aims to eradicate “Textbook Syndrome”.
This programme is suitable for all parents/carers of Autistic children and professionals working with Autistic individuals.”

This Programme has Continued Professional Development Accreditation (CPD)

Spectrum Gaming

Spectrum Gaming has a huge focus on advocacy – ensuring Autistic young people’s voices are heard, and one way they are aiming to do this is by offering indepth autism training, focused on the lived experience of autistic young people.

“This series of 6 webinars has been co-produced with autistic young people, and delivered by autistic adults, or young people themselves, with the focus on helping professionals, parents/ carers and more improve their understanding of autism.”

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Jodie Clarke

Jodie Clarke offers a range of online and on-demand courses for parents/carers and professionals, and also offers 1:1 in-person training and support covering a range of topics, including burnout and school attendance difficulties.

Amanda Diekman
Low Demand Parenting

“The revolutionary 1 month course by Amanda Diekman helps you move from theory into daily practice — with structure, support, and spaciousness. It’s time to move from surviving to thriving, no matter what parenting throws your way. Not by fixing your child, but by releasing the pressure, healing your nervous system, and rediscovering what really matters.”

The PDA Space

Panic Monkey And Me course from The PDA Space and Nanny Aut. A 5 week course for parents of neurodivergent children and may be especially helpful for PDAers!  Learn more about the limbic system, the challenges it can bring, and how to overcome them together as a family

NeuroHappiness

Vicky Coxhead from Neurohappiness offers neuro-affirmative parent/carer coaching and online workshops.

Viv Dawes
Autistic Advocate

Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate offers: Parents Support Groups. They run every 4 weeks on a Wednesday lunchtime, 12.30 to 1.30 (BST), via Zoom.
“For parents of autistic children and teenagers who are at home due to experiencing autistic burnout. The group is a safe, confidential and welcoming space, to share your experiences, concerns and to ask questions.” 

Viv also offers: Recovery Journey Package For parents with children or teenagers
experiencing autistic burnout.

Raising A Wild Child

Raising a Wild Child provides compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming support for families raising children who don’t fit into traditional moulds. They offer personalised support, expert-led training, and a welcoming community to empower families to move beyond struggle and into connection.

They offer family support through therapeutic, child-centered strategies and ethos aimed at promoting positive mental health, improving family relationships, and reducing violence in both home and school settings.

STAK LIFE

STAK.life (Stefans Acts of Kindness) is dedicated to nurturing kindness, unity, and inclusivity within communities, prioritising mental health and wellbeing. They focus on training, organising creative and supportive therapies, groups, programs, and collaborative initiatives, to fulfil its mission. Their primary objective is to create opportunities for neurodivergent individuals, with a particular focus on children and young people, to reach their full potential and thrive.

Reframing Autism

Reframing Autism is an Autistic-led charity based in Australia, reframing the understanding of Autism through education, resources and research, underpinned by our lived experience as Autistics.

They offer courses, training and resources for both families and professionals – lots accessible on line and valuable for UK people too!

Laura Hellfeld
Neurodivergent Nurse Consulting

Laura offers neuro-affirming workshops, webinars and resources for parents/carers and professionals.

Focusing on topics such as:

Food and eating

Sleep

Autistic play

PDA Profile of Autistics

Low-demand strategies

Distress Behaviours

Puberty

Sensory Experiences

Family Relationships & Friendships

Autistic Burnout

Creating Safe Spaces for Autistics

Autistic Girls Network

Autistic Girls Network (not just for girls!) has a range of on-demand courses and webinars for parents and carers and also professionals. “Their family workshops are designed specifically to provide parents, caregivers, and family members with practical knowledge, compassionate guidance, and a supportive community on the journey to nurturing your autistic young person.

These specialised workshops offer a safe space to learn about an internal profile of autism, share experiences with other families who truly understand, and develop strategies tailored to your young person’s specific needs. Led by experienced professionals and autistic women, their sessions combine evidence-based approaches with lived experience to help your family thrive.”

NeuroConnect

A neurodivergent led team founded by Catherine Eveness. They work directly with children and/or their parents, carers, and all professionals, including those who have no access to funding for support or training.

They provide evidence-based, relational services, such as therapeutic support or psychoeducation and training, to enhance relationships with a fundamental neuroaffirming approach. They are neurodivergent led and trauma informed.

The Neurothentic Network

Neuro-affirming, Autistic led, prioritising Neurodivergent voices. They offer 1:1 support, social groups and offer other training packages.

I have found Kieran Rose’s (The Autistic Advocate) courses really valuable. They provided me with a deeper insight into the history of Autism, sensory and communication differences, masking, the importance of the theory of monotropism and ways to understand Autistic burnout. 

This course helped develop my own understanding of what a positive Autistic identity means for myself, enabling me to be more accepting of my own needs. It strengthened my ability to advocate for my own needs and of those I support. 

The Inside of Autism course is great for everyone whether you are Autistic or not!

These courses and resources will also be invaluable for parents/carers and professionals supporting Autistic people to give them a greater insight into Autistic experiences.

I am honoured to be an affiliate with Kieran Rose. If you are interested in learning more, please click the links below. 

Here is the link to my Facebook post with further recommendations from people in the community.

This is an evolving list – please contact me with further recommendations.