Resources for Community Groups
Explore a range of evidence-based advice, support and services designed to help you support families navigating Autism and ADHD.
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1.
Video introductions to Autism and ADHD:
National Autistic Society - what is autism video explainer:https://youtu.be/Lk4qs8jGN4U?si=VB-kqW0XrM1COKSO
Duke University - What is Autism? | video explainer: https://youtu.be/TJuwhCIQQTs?si=PgtWBkRwAP9yTYY5
Amazing Things Project - What is ADHD video explainer: https://youtu.be/1t9UHQgtDfU?si=UW7OGQVaWMJwBrYt
Black Equity Organisation - SEND Support in the UK: https://blackequityorg.com/send-support/
2.
Reminder on Sensory Processing:
What is sensory processing (article): https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/about-autism/sensory-processing
Differing Minds - Sensory Processing (video): https://youtu.be/V-kUKyfu0as?si=XJkg0R8ZPKosbRKk
3.
Stories of Intersectional Lived Experience:
Being a Black SEN Mama - Marsha Martin (video interview): Being a Black SEN Mama, Marsha Martin: Episode 4
Being Black and undiagnosed neurodivergent in the workplace - Kirsty McGilvery (video interview): Being black & undiagnosed neurodivergent in the workplace, Krystle McGilvery: Kaleidoscope Episode 2
4.
Affirming behavioural support strategies:
Tools to support executive functioning
Visual support explainers and examples:
NHS Borders Visual Schedules examples and templates: Visual Schedules
Autism Toolbox: Visual Supports
Communicating with Autistic pupils:
National Autistic Society - Tips for effective communication with autistic pupils
Creating safe sensory experiences for individuals with Autism and ADHD
National Autistic Society - DIY sensory experience map: https://nas.chorus.thirdlight.com/file/24/P-t5TW6P-T.27VHP-DWvPrD1dT.P/My-Sensory-Experience-resource.pdf
NHS - Resources to improve the sensory environment for autistic people: Sensory-friendly resource pack | NHS England
Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families for the challenges of family life. In addition to a national helpline, online chat, WhatsApp and email support service, they provide online parenting courses and articles about key issues such as supporting neurodivergent children through transition: https://www.coramfamilylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/online-parenting-courses/
Nip in the Bud provides free short evidence-based films, fact sheets, blogs and podcasts to help parents/carers, primary school staff, teacher trainees and others working with children to recognise potential mental health conditions. The goal is to increase early intervention so the negative impact of conditions can be “nipped in the bud” to avoid them becoming more serious in later years:Nip in the Bud
Contact - Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit Building welcoming, inclusive community representation in parent carer forums: Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit
The ADHD Evidence Project provides parents and families with practical PDF guides for talking about ADHD and supporting adults with ADHD:Slides and Videos
Black Equity Organisation provide a list of networks, services and a helpful glossary of the UK common phrases in the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support: Signposting and glossary - BEO
Black Equity Organisation provide education support resources such as letter templates for engaging with schools on exclusions, behaviour policy and SEND support: https://blackequityorg.com/education-resources/
Bounce Black provides a list of education and employment opportunities for young people, including those developed within and for Black communities: Employment and education – Bounce Black
(for educators) Mentally Healthy Schools Black History Month toolkit: https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2702/black-history-month-2021-toolkit.pdf
National Governance Association - Tackling disadvantage in Education: a toolkit for governing boards: https://www.nga.org.uk/media/2rwhqjqk/nga-disadvantage-toolkit-ethnicity-20250113.pdf
Black Thrive Global - Roots to Wings Toolkit based on a case study with practical activities to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of Black young people and their families in South London and beyond: Roots to Wings
(for adult carers) Cultural Appropriate Resources - toolkits for professionals providing care to global majority individuals with dementia: Cultural Appropriate Resources
The Big E - Project Up provides free (non-diagnostic) assessments of needs for Black children and young people with unidentified or unmet needs. Simultaneously, they are documenting the lived experiences of the families throughout their SEND journey: Project UP
5.
Free wellbeing and educational tools for neurodivergent people and their support-system
A reminder of the government’s SEND Reform White Paper published on 23 February 2026 to reform the schools and SEND systems in England, ensuring that every child can achieve and thrive: Every child achieving and thriving (HTML version) - GOV.UK
Read two parents’ perspectives on the impact of reforms on intersectional equity, protection of statutory rights and accountable implementation (24 February 2026): Do the government's new SEND reforms risk disproportionately affecting Black and marginalised children?
Explore the collection of SEND Reform recorded webinars for health professionals, local authority leaders, education settings, parents and carers and social care professionals: SEND Reform Government Consultation Information Webinars
The White Paper consultation closed on 18th May 2026, and evidence is being analysed for response. Groups including Include Me TOO, Black SEN Mamas and South Asian SEN Mamas have called for an extension to the consultation period to allow for meaningful participation from underrepresented groups (17 May 2026). SEND Reforms – Disability and SEND organisations and community groups formal request to Secretary of State for Education for an extension to the SEND Reforms consultations
6.
SEND Reform latest news:
7.
The Birmingham Language, Learning and Strategic Support team work with educational settings to help pupils with cognition, learning, and language difficulties; and other vulnerable groups, to progress and achieve to the best of their abilities: Language, Learning and Strategic Support Team (LL&SS)
The SEN MAMAS project exists to support mothers at the intersection of race, disability, and motherhood. Both practical and systemic, Black SEN Mamas was founded by Marsha Martin – a neurodivergent, autistic and ADHD mother of three, and former behavioural therapist. Frustrated by systemic barriers and racial disparities in SEND support, she created a safe space where mothers like her could access culturally competent advocacy, mental health support, and community: https://senmamas.com/
Parent carer forums are groups run by parents and carers of disabled children from a local area in England. They aim to make sure that services in their area meet the needs of disabled children and their families: Parent carer forums
Tresacare is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting care workers and improving retention rates in the care sector: Tresacare
Support Services
Evidence-based interventions for ADHD research platform: Evidence-Based Interventions for ADHD
Gemegah, E & Perepa, P 2023, Experiences of Black fathers of autistic children in the United Kingdom. University of Birmingham <https://pure-oai.bham.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/212955473/experiences-of-black-fathers-of-autistic-children-in-the-united-kingdom.pdf>
Wheeler, R., Agyepong, A., Benhura, C., Martin, M., & Peter, M. (2024). Accessing special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision for Black and mixed Black heritage children: Lived experiences from parents and professionals living in South London. Global Black Maternal Health. Black Child SEND
Hood, S., et al. “History on loop: the sustained impact of school exclusions on Black communities.” Runnymede, Runnymede Trust, 2025, https://www.runnymedetrust.org/publications/history-on-loop.: History on loop: the sustained impact of school exclusions on Black communities
The Big E - Project Up provides free (non-diagnostic) assessments of needs for Black children and young people with unidentified or unmet needs. Simultaneously, they are documenting the lived experiences of the families throughout their SEND journey: Project UP
Rabiger, Penny. “An Intersectional View of the DFE White Paper on Send 2026.” Tenpencemore, wordpress, 23 Feb. 2026, tenpencemore.wordpress.com/2026/02/23/an-intersectional-view-of-the-dfe-white-paper-on-send-2026/.
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Research on Black SEND Experiences in the UK:
