Autistic people are more likely to experience physical and mental health difficulties across the lifespan, leading to an increased risk of premature mortality likely due to health disparities. At present, little is known about the healthcare experiences of autistic older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 autistic adults…

Background: Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) describes an eating disturbance associated with weight loss or faltering growth in children, significant nutritional deficiency, reliance on oral supplements, reliance on enteral feeding and/or a clear interference with psychosocial functioning, in the absence of body image concerns.…

This study examined predictors of access to early support amongst families of 0-6-year-old children with suspected or diagnosed developmental disabilities in the United Kingdom. Using survey data from 673 families, multiple regression models were fitted for three outcomes: intervention access, access to early support sources, and unmet need for…

Post-diagnostic support for autistic adults in the United Kingdom is geographically inequitable and, in general, considered inadequate. This results in autistic adults facing unnecessary challenges and wide-ranging poor outcomes. A modified Delphi study sought to establish autistic adults' priorities for optimal provision of post-diagnostic…

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, many health services were withdrawn from people with learning disabilities, with negative impacts on people's health. What has happened to people's health and healthcare as we move beyond the pandemic? Methods: Access to health services and health status were tracked for 550 UK adults…

In 2003, the Department for Education in England commissioned research which supported the policy drive to reduce the reliance on statements for special educational needs (SEN). Twenty years on and the government's emphasis has now switched from reducing workload to creating financially sustainable systems. There continues to be wide variations in…

In England, a quarter of 5-year-olds have tooth decay. For families with autistic children, establishing optimal habits (toothbrushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, limiting sugar intake and regular dental visits) can be difficult. Oral health experiences from the perspective of autistic children remains unexplored. Interviewing autistic…

Opportunities for adults to access support following a clinical diagnosis of autism are limited. This study investigated perspectives of autistic adults, relatives and clinicians regarding characteristics of optimal adult autism post-diagnosis support and services. In Stage 1, key stakeholders were surveyed about recent experiences of UK adult…

Autistic individuals with intellectual disability are at greater risk of experiencing anxiety than their non-autistic peers without intellectual disability. Anxiety in this group may present as behaviour that challenges, often leading families to reach out to healthcare or support services. However, many families experience difficulties accessing…

Background: Telehealth for paediatric speech and language therapy became one of the most salient modes of service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence for speech and language therapy services via telehealth in comparison to face-to-face delivery demonstrates promising outcomes, and studies have begun to explore practitioner and client…

As the new academic year begins, higher education providers (HEPs) are building on their experience of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic--including key partnerships with public health--to mitigate possible risks of monkeypox. This briefing provides principles for the prevention and case management of monkeypox infections in UK higher education…

Infants with Down syndrome are more likely to experience feeding problems and mothers are likely to require more feeding support than mothers of typically developing infants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many feeding support services changed from face-to-face to online, which impacted some maternal feeding experiences negatively, but no studies…

Speech and language therapy (SLT) services are vital in assisting children with speech, language, or communication disorders. However, various barriers limit the provision of this service in an equal and adequate manner. This study examines these barriers in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Türkiye and explores how school-based speech and…

Mental health disorders in school-aged children are on the rise. The need for mental health care is well recognized, and the provision of this care in schools is recommended. An integrative review explored how school nurses view their role in addressing students' mental health. Fourteen articles were identified, eleven using a qualitative design…

Background: Individuals with diabetes and a learning disability have poorer health outcomes than those without a learning disability. In the UK, the health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities are often the result of barriers they face in accessing timely, appropriate and effective health care. The aim of the study was to review…