Police Autism UK
LightNews LightNews
banner
npaa.org.uk
Police Autism UK
@npaa.org.uk
480 followers 46 following 150 posts
The National Police Autism Association (NPAA) supports officers, staff & communities, & promotes neurodiversity in policing | Enquiries: http://npaa.org.uk/contact
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Police Autism UK
dimensionsuk.bsky.social
If you're proud of someone with learning disabilities and/or autism then let us know!

bit.ly/EnterLeaders
#DimensionsLeadersAwards
February 6, 2026 at 11:58 AM
npaa.org.uk
Females may be just as likely to be autistic as males, but boys are up to four times more likely to be diagnosed in childhood, according to a large-scale study
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Autistic girls much less likely to be diagnosed, study says
By age 20 diagnosis rates for men and women almost equal, research finds, challenging assumptions of gender discrepancy
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:30 AM
npaa.org.uk
One in six autistic pupils have not been to school at all since the start of this academic year, according to a new survey which found that mental health issues were often behind high levels of school absence
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
One in six autistic pupils in UK have not attended school at all since September
Data comes as government prepares to publish plans to overhaul Send system in England
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:35 AM
Reposted by Police Autism UK
autisticrealms.bsky.social
The University of Birmingham are finding out what Autistic and non-Autistic children aged 6 to 14 find comfortable and uncomfortable to look at. The findings will help make places and materials more comfortable.
Find out more:
Dr. Tyler: [email protected]
Dr. Manning: [email protected]
A colourful poster recruiting children for a research study on visual comfort. The heading reads: “Autistic and non-autistic children needed for study of visual comfort levels,” with logos for the Sensory Processing, Inclusion and Neurodiversity Lab, University of Birmingham, and The Visual Comfort Project. Text explains that children aged 6 to 14 and their parents are invited to help researchers understand what images feel comfortable or uncomfortable to look at. The study can be done at the university or online and takes under two hours. Parents complete questionnaires. A section titled “Who can take part?” says children aged 6 to 14 with or without an autism diagnosis can join, and only ages 9 to 14 can take part online. A “Benefits” section lists a £10 voucher, travel costs, certificate, and summary of results for in-person participants, and a chance to win a £25 voucher online. Contact details are given for Dr Sam Tyler and Dr Cathy Manning. It states participants can withdraw at any time. The background shows a friendly illustrated garden scene with trees, a fence, a path, a dog playing with a ball, and a cat sitting nearby.
February 3, 2026 at 4:30 PM
npaa.org.uk
Interesting article on the power of concentration (& how to improve it)
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Do you like cat photos? Are you constantly distracted? You’re probably actually quite good at focussing: 10 myths about attention
Every second, 11m bits of information enter our brains, which then efficiently prioritise them. We need to learn to work with the process, rather than against it
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:24 AM
npaa.org.uk
NEW BLOG: A former police officer shares his personal experience of acquired brain injury (ABI), an often-overlooked form of neurodiversity
www.npaa.org.uk/my-experienc...
Guest Blog: My experience of acquired brain injury | National Police Autism Association
PhD student and former police officer Alexander Wood shares his personal experience of acquired brain injury (ABI), a form of neurodiversity that is often lesser considered but has wide-reaching impac...
www.npaa.org.uk
January 20, 2026 at 4:55 PM
npaa.org.uk
People are desperate’: ADHD clinicians in England on a system in chaos
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
‘People are desperate’: ADHD clinicians in England on a system in chaos
Sector is overwhelmed by demand and expanding faster than administrative structures can support
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:19 AM
npaa.org.uk
Mattel launches its first autistic Barbie 👡

The new doll has a fidget spinner to reduce stress, wears noise-cancelling headphones to reduce sensory overload & carries a tablet with symbol-based augmentative buttons on its screen to help with communication
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Mattel launches its first autistic Barbie
Company says doll is the latest expansion of its commitment to representation and inclusion
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:08 AM
npaa.org.uk
Wishing a Happy New Year to all our members, followers & visitors 🥂
a neon sign that says ' n ' on it
ALT: a neon sign that says ' n ' on it
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:46 AM
npaa.org.uk
A lovely story for Christmas (and a reminder that autism has always been part of human difference)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years
An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 8:05 AM
npaa.org.uk
Wishing our members, followers & visitors a happy Christmas and New Year 😊
To our colleagues at work - hope you get some time off with family & friends - stay safe out there 👍
a cat climbs up a christmas tree with a hmagif.com logo in the corner
ALT: a cat climbs up a christmas tree with a hmagif.com logo in the corner
media.tenor.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
npaa.org.uk
It's a cue for a song!
youtu.be/9HEdLmbZoJQ
December 17, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Police Autism UK
theguardian.com
Why are diagnoses of ADHD soaring? There are no easy answers – but empathy is the place to start | Gabor Maté
Why are diagnoses of ADHD soaring? There are no easy answers – but empathy is the place to start | Gabor Maté
Some say it’s overdiagnosis, others say it’s greater recognition. But it’s clear we must think about how our society is impacting human development, says author and retired physician Gabor Maté
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:44 AM
npaa.org.uk
'Adapted' in this case meaning raiding a liquor store, passing out and waiting for the cops 🤨
tomoljenkins.bsky.social Tom Jenkins @tomoljenkins.bsky.social · Dec 3
“Raccoons have adapted to living in urban areas“
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
npaa.org.uk
An interesting article for our ADHD members and followers, and anyone who finds it difficult to get started on tasks and projects

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Does ‘laziness’ start in the brain?
Understanding the surprising mechanism behind apathy can help unlock scientific ways to boost your motivation
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
npaa.org.uk
💡 "New autism strategy must deliver change for autistic people"

This is the key conclusion reached by the House of Lords special inquiry committee on the Autism Act 2009 in its report ‘Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy’
committees.parliament.uk/committee/77...
New autism strategy must deliver change for autistic people - Committees - UK Parliament
This is the key conclusion reached by the House of Lords special inquiry committee on the Autism Act 2009 in its report ‘Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy’.&...
committees.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 6:58 PM
npaa.org.uk
A new wide-ranging review into paracetamol (acetaminophen) use by pregnant women, published today in the British Medical Journal, has found no convincing link between the common painkiller and the chances of children being diagnosed with autism or ADHD
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
No link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children, review finds
Wide-ranging review finds no convincing connection after Trump said women should ‘fight like hell’ to avoid painkiller
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
npaa.org.uk
A scheme by Cumbria Police to screen people in custody for signs of ADHD has provided a "lightbulb moment" for offenders, the officer leading it has said
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cumbria Police ADHD scheme 'lightbulb moment' for offenders
A scheme to detect ADHD to prevent offenders from returning to custody is rolled out across Cumbria.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
npaa.org.uk
A woman who found out she had ADHD when she was 36 has said it is "like there is life before and life after" diagnosis
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Couple share life with ADHD to help others understand
Rox was diagnosed with ADHD at 36 and says it led to a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Reposted by Police Autism UK
tripleaproject.bsky.social
We are looking for Autistic & Neurodivergent creatives from Cumbria to participate in an Art Project which will be known as ‘Penrith Castle’.
November 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Reposted by Police Autism UK
johnpring.bsky.social
A culture of institutional disability discrimination within the Metropolitan police is exposed today by the former head of its disabled staff association.
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/former-detec...
Former detective exposes culture of disability discrimination within ‘institutionally disablist’ Met
A culture of institutional disability discrimination within the Metropolitan police is exposed today by the former head of its disabled staff association. Dave Campbell, who retired this year after…
www.disabilitynewsservice.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:30 AM
npaa.org.uk
Asda hires autistic man who was let go by Waitrose after years of volunteering
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Asda hires autistic man who was let go by Waitrose after years of volunteering
Waitrose asked Tom Boyd not to return when he asked for a few hours of paid work after years as unpaid shelf stacker
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
npaa.org.uk
Disability hate crime prosecutions tumble again, three years after CPS admitted figures were ‘woeful’
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disability-h...
Disability hate crime prosecutions tumble again, three years after CPS admitted figures were ‘woeful’
Prosecutions of disability hate crime plummeted again last year, with less than 300 cases taken forward by prosecutors, despite police forces in England and Wales recording more than 10,000 offence…
www.disabilitynewsservice.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:41 AM
npaa.org.uk
Many of our members & followers will identify with this - "It turned out I wasn’t the only one who felt like small talk was an awkward and forced ritual"
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
A moment that changed me: I gave up small talk for a month – and the world came alive
I was fed up with discussing the weather, so I started to ask unexpected questions. The conversations that resulted were revelatory
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
npaa.org.uk
A new start after 60: 'I realised I had autism – and suddenly my life made sense. I have never been so happy'
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
A new start after 60: I realised I had autism – and suddenly my life made sense. I have never been so happy
After decades of loneliness and depression, Cathleen Caffrey had come to think of herself as a bad person. Then she learned about others who had struggled to fit in …
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:52 AM