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Altogether Autism Journals

Altogether Autism Journals

The Altogether Autism Journal is produced especially for Autistics, their whānau / families and professionals.  For past issues of the Journal click the links below.  You can also read the articles individually.
Fill in our online form here to get the FREE Altogether Autism Journal sent to you by email.  You can also subscribe to our regular e-News updates.
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2025 – Autism and… Making the Invisible Visible.

In 2025 our Autistic Advisors chose a powerful theme for our Journal: “Autistic and… Making the Invisible Visible.” Photo credit:  Luella Wheeler While there is much to celebrate about being Autistic, this theme highlights many overlooked aspects of autism—those complexities and experiences that so often come with autism. Or, as Tyrone Cook describes in his article, the ‘flatmates’ that live with his Autistic self. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has shared their stories, artistic talents, insights and expertise.  Together, we explore some of the unseen realities that are part of daily life for many Autistic people.

A vibrant picture of a stylised face, with cut out letters spelling 'neurodivergent' down the right side. Further text reads, Altogether Autism Journal. Autism and Anxiety.

2023 – Autism and Anxiety

What a rich feast of information and celebration we have for you. While Autism and Anxiety can be a heavy topic, our intention is to bring knowledge and hope as our generous contributors share research and insights. If, after reading these articles, you would like more information, research or strategies on autism and anxiety, please contact us on live chat, email or phone with any specific queries or concerns.

2022 Transitions Through the Life Stages - Copy

2022 – Transitions Through the Life Stages

Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to our 2022 edition of the Journal.  As I write this, Queen Elizabeth II has just died, the Covid 19 traffic light system has come to an end and Paula Tesoriero has been appointed chief executive of Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People.

2021 Authentically Autistic

2021 – Authentically Autistic

Covid Brings Mixed Blessings – This is our first journal since 2019, with Covid providing all manner of interruptions and disruptions.  But as we are all discovering, Covid has also brought opportunities.  So we are doing some new things here at Altogether Autism. The first is our Autistics 4 Autistics (A4A) Zoom meetups.

2019 Issue 3 Autism and the Future

2019 Issue 3 – Autism and the Future

Stories as gifts create meaning – I love stories.  Steve Ballantyne, from Story IQ, ran a workshop at the recent conference on Strengthening Through Stories, hosted by Community Waikato.  He described stories as gifts, with facts wrapped in emotions that create meaning.  Positive stories release oxytocin, according to Steve, which is associated with empathy, compassion and connection.  In this edition of our Journal, we are delighted to give you the gift of oxytocin, as we feature Jessica Falconer’s new children’s story, Beth and the Bracelets.

2019 Issue 2 Dads and Autismjpg

2019 Issue 2 – Dads and Autism

Fathers on a path to autism acceptance – We are delighted to bring you the special stories of “Dads and Autism” included in this edition.  We know from previous readership surveys that we have more women than men reading our Journals, so we are especially grateful to the fathers and families who shared their journeys.  We hope these powerful stories of fathers and their autistic sons and daughters will inspire and encourage you.

2019 Issue 1 Autism Acceptance

2019 Issue 1 – Autism Acceptance

Autism professional development demand grows – As this journal hits subscriber mailboxes, we have started delivering Strengthening Early Learning Opportunities (SELO) programmes for early childhood educators with funding provided by the Ministry of Education.  They include one-day workshops and centre visits.

2018 Issue 3 By Autistics for Autistics

2018 Issue 3 – By Autistics, for Autistics

By Autistics, for Autistics – In our last readership survey, 85 per cent of you told us the articles you most liked to read in our Journal were personal perspectives.  In this edition, you will find many such articles, by autistics, for autistics.

2018 Issue 2 Success Across the Spectrum

2018 Issue 2 – Success Across the Spectrum

Commitment to listening encouraged – There is plenty happening in our sector at the moment with two nationwide consultations underway.  We are encouraged by this government’s commitment to listening to the voices of a wide and diverse range of people, as seen in both the Education Conversation and the Mental Health inquiry.

2018 Issue 1 Education and Autism

2018 Issue 1 – Education and Autism

Setting the agenda for 2018 – Ngā mihi nui and kia ora koutou katoa.  Happy New Year!  This edition of our Journal is featuring autism and education from pre-school to tertiary, and everything in between.

2017 Issue 3 Pet Therapy, Conference Wrap Up, and New Autism Services

2017 Issue 3 – Pet therapy, Conference Wrap Up, and New Autism Services 

Conference wrapup – A big thank you to everyone who attended our biennial conference, Transitions #Breakthrough2017 in Auckland in July.  Two hundred and five delegates joined us for the event and one hundred of you completed the evaluation form and rated this event very highly.

2017 Issue 2 Untapped Autistic Potential

2017 Issue 2 – Untapped Autistic Potential

Making the Transition – Transitions #Breakthrough2017 is our biennial learning event.  Thanks to Te Pou’s Consumer Leadership Development Grant, over 50 consumers – That is, autistic people and their families / whānau – are able to attend.  Several of these people are also speakers, bringing a rich range of topics.  People with lived experience of autism will present two of our four streams of workshops.  Transitions #Breakthrough2017 will be an extraordinary opportunity for immersion in autistic culture.  We feature several of the speakers in this Journal and all the abstracts are on our website.

2017 Issue 1 We Debunk the Vaccine Myth and Share Autism-Friendly Practices

Autism-friendly practices theme – We share a range of autism-friendly practices in education, health, research and transport on our website and in this, the first Altogether Autism Journal of 2017.  Altogether Autism relies on evidence-based practice when researching and recommending information and strategies.

2016 Issue 4 Our Stance on Seclusion

2016 Issue 4 – Our Stance on Seclusion 

Parenting on the spectrum – Parenting brings many uncertainties, but parenting on the spectrum comes with a unique set of challenges, whether you are parenting a child on the spectrum or whether you are a parent with autism.  We explore these challenges and reflect on some of the joys of parenting on the spectrum in this latest issue of the Journal.

2016 Issue 3 Depression in Autistic Adults

2016 Issue 3 – Depression in Autistic Adults

Autism, mental health and wellbeing – In this issue of the Journal, we shine a light on mental health and autism.

2016 Issue 2 Dungeon Master Breaking the Label

2016 Issue 2 – Dungeon Master: Breaking the Label

In this issue we consider employment for people with autism, looking at the strengths and challenges.  Research and experience points to autism being a battier to employment, and once employed, people on the spectrum are often over-qualified and underpaid.  But there is an emerging trend of employers recognising the strengths of autism in the workplace.

2016 Issue 1 Our 'Help' or Harm' Issue

2016 Issue 1 – Our ‘Help or Harm?’ Issue

In this issue, we are featuring interventions – Do they help or harm?  Surrey Jackson provides us with an overview of fad interventions and reliable sources of evidence-based information on pages 8 and 9.  We have developed a basic rating key to give you our at-a-glance opinion of the six interventions covered in this edition.

2015 Issue 4 Quirky Girls

2015 Issue 4 – Quirky Girls

In this edition, we are delighted to introduce you to two new researchers.  Rebecca Armstrong and Tegan Andrews have filled the vacancies left by myself and Surrey Jackson; Surrey has left us to take up an internship with Explore Behaviour Support Services.

2015 Issue 3 The Strengths and Challenges of High Functioning Autism

2015 Issue 3 – The Strengths and Challenges of High Functioning Autism

In this issue we cover two areas.  The first explores some of the strengths and challenges of what is commonly known as ‘high functioning autism’; the second topic gives you key essentials for our upcoming national conference, to be held in Auckland in July.

2015 Issue 2 Criminal Justice System

2015 Issue 2 – Autism and the Criminal Justice System

In this issue, we explore the specific challenges for people on the spectrum when they encounter law enforcement and criminal justice systems.

2015 Issue 1 Autism Christmas Survival Edition

2015 Issue 1 – Autism: Christmas Survival Edition

I used to wonder what was wrong with me when I started panicking and needing to escape pre-Christmas shopping crowds while everyone around me seemed so happy.  But, having been recently diagnosed with autism, I can now appreciate (and forgive) my challenges, particularly around Christmas when social pressures elevate.