Reading and games

three young children with one reading a book

On this page you will find resources that have been recommended by parents and professionals. We hope you find them useful.

If you think of anything we have not included, please let us know and we will add it to the list.

The National Autistic Society offer lists of useful books and other materials about Autism.

Help Kidz Learn provides accessible software, enabling children of all abilities to play, to develop and achieve. These include choice-making activities.

Books by subject

​Book title ​Author ​​Date of publicationAudience
​Asperger World: My Fairy Jam Jar​Joely Colmer​2017Girls and young women
​Asperger’s and Girls: World-Renowned Experts Join Those with Asperger’s Syndrome to Resolve Issues That Girls and Women Face Every Day​Tony ​Attwood and Temple Grandin​​2006 ​Parents, professionals, young people
​Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration​Paula Aquilla and Ellen Yack​2015

​Parents

​Autism and Asperger Syndrome (The Facts) ​Simon Baron-Cohen​2008​Parents, professionals
​Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism​Fiona Bleach​2006​Siblings of children with ASD
​Siblings - The Autism Experience Through Our Eyes​Jane Botsford Johnson and Anne Van Rensselaer​2013​Siblings
​Iris Grace​Arabella ​Carter-Johnson2016​ Parents, professionals
​People with Autism Behaving Badly: Helping People with ASD Move On from Behavioral and Emotional Challenges​John ​Clements​2005​ Parents, professionals
​The Asperkid’s (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens with Asperger Syndrome​Jennifer Cook O'Toole ​2012​

​Young people

​Leah’s Voice​​Lori Demonia and Monique Turchan ​​2014​Siblings of children with ASD
​Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children: A Guide for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals ​Margaret Duncan, Ruth Fidler and Zara Healy Phil Christie​2011​Parents, teachers and other professionals
It Can Get Better: Dealing with Common Behaviour Problems in Young Children with Autism Paul Dickinson and Liz Hannah ​2014 Parents
The Incredible 5-Point Scale: Assisting Children with ASDs in Understanding Social Interactions and Controlling Their Emotional Responses ​Kari​ Dunn Buron and Mitzi Curtis 2012

Parents, professionals  

​Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes​​Jennifer Elder and Marc Thomas ​​2009​Children​
​Pop Fantastic​David and Amy Fox​Children, siblings
​Can I tell you about Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome?​Ruth Fidler and Phil Christie ​2015​Friends, family and professionals
​Autism: Explaining the Enigma (Cognitive Development) ​Uta Frith​2003​Parents, professionals
​I Have a Question about Death​Arlen Grad Gaines and Meredith Englander Polsky ​2017​Children
​Emergence: Labelled Autistic​Temple ​Grandin and Margaret Scariano​2005​Parents, professionals
​The Loving Push: How Parents and Professionals Can Help Spectrum Kids Become Successful Adults Temple​ Grandin and Debra Moore ​2015

Parents, professionals

​The New Social Story Book

​Carol Gray

​2015

Parents, professionals

​The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time​Mark ​Haddon​2003​Parents, professionals
​Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old AgeSarah ​Hendrick​2015​​Parents, professionals
​The Reason I Jump: One Boy’s Voice from the Silence of Autism​Naoki ​Higashida​​2014​​Parents, professionals
​Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight: A Young Man’s Voice from the Silence of Autism​Naoki ​Higashida​2017​Parents, professionals
​All Cats Have Asperger's​Kathy Hoopmann​2010​Children, siblings of children with ASD
​Freaks, Geeks and Aspergers Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence​Luke ​Jackson​2002​Young people
​The Superhero Brain​Christel Land​2017​Children and young people
​Sensory StrategiesCorinna ​Laurie​2014​Professionals in schools​

​Suzie and Sammy (Series) 

Charlotte ​Olsen​2013 to 2016​Children and young people
​What's happening to Ellie? A Book About Puberty for Girls and Young Women with Autism and Related Conditions​Katie E ​Reynolds​​2015​Girls and young women
​Autism - from Diagnostic Pathway to Intervention: Checklists to Support Diagnosis, Analysis for Target-Setting and Effective Intervention Strategies​Kate Ripley​2015​Professionals
​My Brother Charlie​Holly Robinson Peete, et al.​2015​Siblings of children with ASD
​My Brother is an Astronaut​Michelle Rundle​2015​Siblings of children with ASD
​Martian in the Playground: Understanding The Schoolchild With Asperger's Syndrome ​Clare Sainsbury​2009​​Siblings of children with ASD
​My Sister has Autism​Marta Schmidt-Mendez​2018​Siblings of children with ASD
​Autism and Me: Sibling Stories​Ouisie Shapiro and Steven Vote​2003​Siblings of children with ASD
Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome - My Daughter is Not Naughty​Jane Alison Sherwin ​2015​Parents and families of children with PDA as well as the professionals
​Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity​Steve ​Silberman​2015​Parents and professionals
​The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods​Robyn Steward​2018​Girls and young women
​Autism in My Family: A Journal for Siblings of Children with ASD​​Sandra ​Tucker​2017​Siblings of children with ASD
​Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome?: A Guide for Friends and Family​Jude Welton​2012​​Siblings of children with ASD, parents
​Challenging Behaviour and Autism: Making Sense, Making Progress​Philip ​Whitaker​2002​Parents, professionals
​Autism Is.?: Volume 1 (Autism Is.? Books)​Ymkje Wideman-van der Laan and Rob Feldman​2012​Children
​The Autistic Spectrum: A Guide for Parents and Professionals​Lorna ​Wing​2003​Parents, professionals
​Title​Author ​ ​Date of publicationAudience
​The Tipping Points: What Professionals Should Recognise As the Social Impact of ADHD​ Phillip ​ Anderton​ 2007Professionals​

​Taking Charge of ADHD, Third Edition: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents

​ Russell A Barkley

 

​ 2013

 

Parents

 
​A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults​Thomas E ​ Brown​ 2013Parents, professionals
​Smart But Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD​Thomas E Brown

​ 2014

​Parents, professionals

​ADHD in HD: Brains Gone Wild Jonathan ​Chester​ 2012Young people
​Raising Girls with ADHD: Secrets for Parenting Healthy, Happy Daughters​Dr James W Forgan and Mary Anne Richey​ 2014​ Parents
​Help! My Grandchild Has ADHD: What These Children and Their Parents Wish You Knew​ Judy ​ Kirzner​ 2012​ Grandparents
​ ADHD – Living without BrakesMartin ​ Kutscher​ 2009​ Parents, professionals
​Zak Has ADHD (A Dr Spot Casebook)Jenny ​ Leigh​ 2013​ Children
​Step by Step Help for Children with ADHD: A Self-Help Manual for ParentsCathy ​ Lever-Bradbury​ 2010​ Parents
​Stories That Never Stand Still (pdf)​Dr Tony Lloyd (ADHD Foundation)​2019​Anyone with ADHD
​Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADHDKathleen ​ Nadeau​ 2004​ Children
​Successfully Managing ADHD – For SENCos and TeachersFintan ​ O'Regan​ 2014​ Professionals
​How to Teach and Manage Children with ADHDFintan ​ O'Regan​ 2002​ Parents, professionals
​100 Questions & Answers about ADHD in Women and GirlsPatricia ​Quinn​ 2010​ Parents, professionals
​The Adventures of Phoebe Flower: Stories of a Girl with ADHD​​Barbara A ​Roberts​ 2010​​ Children
​Movers, Dreamers and Risk-Takers: Unlocking the Power of ADHD​Kevin ​Roberts​ 2012​ Parents, professionals, young people
​ Adhd (The Facts Series)​Mark ​ Selikowitz​ 2009​ Parents, professionals
​The Elephant in the ADHD Room​Letitia ​ Sweitzer​ 2014​ Parents, professionals
​The Survival Guide for Kids with ADHDJohn F ​ Taylor​ 2013​ Children
​Boy Without Instructions – Surviving the Learning Curve of Parenting a Child With ADHDPenny ​Williams​ 2014​ Parents
​Can I Tell You About ADHD?: A Guide for Friends, Family and Professionals ​Susan ​Yarney​ 2014​ Family, friends
​Title​Author ​ ​Date of publication Audience
​​Toolkit for Parents / Carers of School-Aged Children with Dyspraxia / DCDDyspraxia Foundation​2017​Parents and carers
​​How to Understand and Support Children with Dyspraxia​Lois ​Addy and Rebecca Barnes​​​2003​​Parents, professionals
​Making Inclusion Work for Children with Dyspraxia: Practical Strategies for Teachers​​Lois ​Addy and Gill Dixon​​​2016​Professionals​
​Developmental Coordination Disorder: Hints and Tips for the Activities of Daily Living​Morvan F Ball​​2012​Professionals
​Caged in Chaos: A Dyspraxic Guide to Breaking Free​Victoria ​​Biggs and Sharon Tsang​2014​Parents, young people
​You're So Clumsy Charley: Having Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, ADHD, Asperger's or Autism Does Not Make You Stupid​Jane ​Binnion and Colin Shelbourn​2017​​Children
​Understanding Dyspraxia: A Guide for Parents and Teachers​​Maureen ​Boon​2010​​Parents, professionals
​Can't Play Won't Play: Simply Sizzling Ideas to get the Ball Rolling for Children with Dyspraxia​Sharon Drew and  Elizabeth Atter​​2008​Parents
​​Guide to Dyspraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorders​Andrew ​Kirby and Sharon Drew​​​2003​​Parents, professionals
​Co-Ordination Difficulties: Practical Ways Forward​Michele ​Lee​2013​Professionals
​Dyspraxia in the Early Years: Identifying and Supporting Children with Movement Difficulties​Christine Macintyre​2008​Parents and professionals
​Take Time: Movement Exercises for Parents, Teachers and Therapists of Children with Difficulties in Speaking, ​Mary ​Nash-Wortham and Jean Hunt​2008Parents, professionals​
​The Dyspraxic Learner: Strategies for Success​Alison ​Patrick​2015​Parents, professionals
​Developmental Dyspraxia, Identification and Intervention: A Manual for Parents and Professionals​Madeleine Portwood​1999​​Parents, professionals
Title​Author ​​Date of publication​Audience
​The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain​Brock ​Eide and Fernette Eide​​2011​Parents, professionals and young people
​Help! My Child Has Dyslexia: A Practical Guide for Parents​Judy Hornigold​2012​​Parents
​Dyslexia: A Parents’ Guide to Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Other Learning Difficulties​Dr Helen ​Likierman and Dr Valerie Muter​2008​Parents
​The Dyslexia-Friendly Teacher's Toolkit ​Barbara Pavey​​2013​Professionals
​Dyslexia: A Complete Guide for Parents and Those Who Help Them​Gavin ​Reid​2011​Parents, professionals
​Creative, Successful, Dyslexic: 23 well known people talk about how dyslexia affected their childhood​Margaret Rooke​2016​parents, professionals, young people
​Diary of a Dyslexic School Kid​Alais Winton and Zac Millard 2019​​Teenagers and young people
​Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide ​British Dyslexia Association​2012​Professionals, parents
​Title​Author ​Date of publicationAudience
​I Love You Natty: A Sibling's Introduction to Down's SyndromeHayley Goleniowska and Mia Goleniowska​ ​​2014​Siblings
​Talking About Downs Syndrome: Conversations for New ParentsHayley Goleniowska and Lisa Warner ​2015Parents
​Title ​Author ​ ​Date of publication Audience
​Your Defiant Child: Eight Steps to Better Behaviour​Russell A. Barkley and Christine M. Benton ​2013​​Parents
​Your Defiant Teen: Ten Steps to Resolve Conflict and Rebuild Your Relationship​​Russell A. Barkley and Arthur L. Robins​2014​Parents
​The Challenge of Behaviour - The Real Way​Dr. Sima Dosani and Dr. Amanda Hull​ ​​​2015​​Parents
​Help for Billy: A Beyond Consequences Approach to helping Challenging Children in the Classroom​Heather T Forbes​2012​Teachers
​1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2 to 12 Thomas W. Phelan​ ​​2010​Parents
​1-2-3 Magic for Kids: Helping Your Kids Understand the New RulesThomas W. Phelan and Tracy M. Lee​ ​​2017​Children
​No-Drama Discipline Workbook​Daniel J Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson ​2014​Parents
Title​Author ​​Date of publication​Audience
​Help! I've Got an Alarm Bell Going Off in My Head!​​K. L ​Aspden​2015​Children
​​The Kids' Guide to Staying Awesome and In Control: Simple Stuff to Help Children Regulate their Emotions and Senses​Lauren ​Brukner​2014​Children
​Starving the Anxiety Gremlin – Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Workbook for Young People​Kate Collins-Donnelly​ ​​2014​Young people
​Starving the Anxiety Gremlin for 5 to 9 year olds​Kate ​Collins-Donnelly​2014

​Children

​​It's Raining and I'm Okay: A Calming Story to Help Children Relax When They Go Out and About​Adele Devine ​​2017​Children
​When My Worries Get Too Big!: A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety​Kari  Dunn Buron​2013

​Children

​Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential​Carol Dweck​2012​Professionals, parents, young people
The Explosive Child​Ross W Greene​​
​What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety​Dawn Huebner​2005​Children
​Worries Are Like Clouds (A Big Hug Book)​Shona Innes2016​​Children
​The Huge Bag of Worries​​Virginia Ironside and Frank Rodgers​2011​Children
​​The Invisible String​​Patricia Karst and Geoff Stevenson​2001​Children
​​10 Keys to Happier Living​​Vanessa King​2016​Parents and professionals
​Angry Octopus: An Anger Management Story for Children Introducing Active Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Deep ​Lori Lite​2011​Children
​​The Parent’s Helping Hand Book: A Practical Guide for Teaching Your Child Protective Behaviours​​Holly-Ann Martin, Jane Bracho, Marilyn Fahie and Tracey Gibbs​2012​Parents
​The Big Book of Calmers​Jenny Mosley and Ross Grogan​2008​Professionals
​The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Proven Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind​Dr ​Tina Payne Bryson and Dr Daniel  Siegel​​2012Parents​
​​Self Soothing: Coping with Everyday and Extraordinary Stress​​Gerrilyn Smith​2013​Parents, professionals
​Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids​Eline Snel​2014Professionals​
​​Not Today, Celeste!: A Dog’s Tale about Her Human’s Depression​​Liza Stevens and Pooky Knightsmith​2016​Children
​Ruby and the Rubbish Bin (Helping children with low self esteem)​Margot Sunderland​​2003​Children
​Looking after your Mental Health​Usborne Children's Books​2018​Children age 9 and over
​Title​Author ​ ​Date of publication ​Audience
​Thera Trust: Safe and Secure England​ ​Al Etmanski​2015​Parents, professionals
Personalisation in Practice: Supporting Young People with Disabilities Through the Transition to Adulthood​Suzie Franklin, Helen Sanderson

​2013

​Parents, professionals
​Title​Author ​​Date of publication​Audience

​​A Legal Handbook

Available as an online resource chapter by chapter as well as in hard copy and on Kindle

Council for Disabled children​ ​​2018​Parents
​Helping Children Learn: Intervention Handouts for Use in School and at Home​​​Jack Naglieri and Eric Pickering​2010​Parents, professionals
​The Special Parent's HandbookYvonne Newbold​ ​​2014​Parents
​Gentle Sleep Book​Sarah Ockwell Smith​2015Parents​
​Building Language Using LEGO® BricksDawn Ralph and Jacqui Rochester​ ​​2014​Parents
​Mary Sheridan's From Birth to Five Years: Children's Developmental Progress​Ajay Sharma and Helen Cockerill​ ​​2014​Professionals
​Liam Goes Poo​Jane Whelan Banks​2008​Children

​

​Title​Author​Audience
​Daisy and Ted's Awesome Adventures​Alex Naido​Children
​Jake and Jasmine to the Rescue​Karen Harlow​Children
​Elephant and the Lost Blanket​Alex Naido​Children

 

The eyelander website is an online game for children with visual impairments.

Cerebra Library

Cerebra have a postal lending library of books on topics relating to neurological conditions, media (DVDs) and sensory equipment, such as fibre optics and the ever popular Sensory in a Suitcase, which contains a range of equipment to stimulate all the senses.

Browse the library

Anyone in the UK can borrow items from the library and it’s free to return them by using the freepost address for books or a courier service that is arranged for you for sensory equipment. You can borrow two books at a time and one sensory item for a month at a time.

Apps, games and magazines 

Action for Aspergers

Action for Aspergers have released two free apps which might be useful for those with individuals with ASD. Both can be found on the App Store and Google Play. The 'Grounding App' has been designed to help reduce likelihood of meltdown for individuals with ASD. The 'Action for Aspergers App' contains information about Action for Aspergers, such as news and support they provide locally.  

Action for Happiness

The Action for Happiness app is based on the themes and actions from their popular monthly calendars. It aims to give users a couple of friendly "nudges" each day. Firstly, that day's positive action (in the morning) and secondly, an inspiring message (towards the end of the day). 

Brain in Hand

Brain in Hand is a professional digital support system which helps people with making decisions, managing anxiety, and dealing with unexpected situations. 

Dyslexia Apps

This blog by Listening Books lists five iPad apps which can be useful for students with Dyslexia. 

Friendship Circle

Applications for mobile phones and tablets suitable for children with special educational needs can be found on the Friendship Circle website. On this site, applications are sorted by skills, price and platform (Android, Apple or Google Play).

NHS Apps Library
The NHS website lists a variety of useful apps that support health and wellbeing. NB: Unless stated otherwise, apps are not supplied by the NHS, and the NHS is not liable for their use).

Sensory Apps House
Sensory App House creates apps for stimulation, relaxation, fun, digital art and speech therapy. A​ll are interactive and many do not require significant coordination abilities.

Understood

Applications for mobile phones and tablets suitable for children with learning and attention issues can be found on the Understood website. On this site, applications are sorted by skills, a quality rating and a learning rating.

​Visuals 2 Go
Visuals 2 Go is an all-in-one app to support people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Minecraft

Minecraft is one of the most popular video-games in the world, and is especially popular amongst children with ASD. The game is available via PC, smartphone, tablet, Xbox, and PlayStation, and Minecraft guidelines state you need to be aged 13 or over to play.

Minecraft is a ‘sandbox game,’ which means players are free to create their own worlds using building blocks. Because of this, Minecraft is sometimes described as ‘virtual Lego.’

The game can be played in single-player mode, or in multi-player mode. The latter is played in groups (or ‘servers’) over the Internet. The multi-player mode can be problematic due to virtual bullying, and it’s difficult to judge whether an online server will be ASD-friendly and child-friendly. 

Fortnite

Fortnite is an online video game developed by Epic Games and released in 2017. It is available in three distinct game mode versions that otherwise share the same general gameplay and game engine:

  1. Fortnite: Save the World, a cooperative shooter-survival game for up to four players to fight off zombie-like creatures and defend objects with fortifications they can build.
  2. Fortnite Battle Royale, a free-to-play battle royale game where up to 100 players fight to be the last person standing.
  3. Fortnite Creative, where players are given complete freedom to create worlds and battle arenas.

The first two game modes were released in 2017 as early access titles and Creative was released on December 6, 2018. Save the World is available only for Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, while Battle Royale has been released for those platforms and, additionally, for Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android devices.

Title​Readership
​Ability Needs Magazine​​Parents and professionals
​​Able MagazineParents, professionals, and young people
​AuKids Magazine​Parents
​Autism Eye Magazine​Parents and professionals
​Autism Parenting Magazine​Parents
​Easy News MagazinePeople with learning disabilities
​Enable Magazine​Parents, professionals, and young people
​My Future Choices MagazineParents, professionals, and young people
​​PosAbility Magazine​Parents, professionals, and young people
​SEN Magazine​​Parents and professionals
SNIX Magazine​Parents, professionals, and young people
​UCAN2 Magazine​Parents and professionals

Dyslexia font

Open Dyslexic is an open resource used to increase readability for readers with Dyslexia. The typeface includes regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic styles. Open Dyslexic is free for commercial and personal use.