ABSTRACT
Autism is a biological disorder that affects how the brain develops, meaning that the autistic brain is developing differently to that of a 'neuro-typical' brain (Shelton & Jalongo 2016). There are four main areas of difficulty for a child with autism: social communication and interactions, restrictive and repetitive behaviours, the use of imagination and play; and sensory sensitivities. In essence, children with autism can think and behave differently to their mainstream peers, and this can therefore pose some challenges for them, and for those who support them. Girls with autism can often present very differently to boys. It is important to be aware that even though girls may appear on the surface to be coping, they may be internalising their frustrations at not being understood, or they themselves may not understand what is happening around them, and this may cause problems for them when they go home, resulting sometimes in what is commonly described as a 'meltdown'.
