Look Beyond the Expected Picture

Autism can present in highly nuanced ways. When clinical or social expectations
are built around a narrow picture of autism, people whose presentation differs
from that expectation may be misunderstood or overlooked.

Identify → Contextualise → Differentiate → Support

When Autism Is Missed, the Consequences Can Extend Far Beyond Diagnosis

The book examines how misunderstanding autistic presentations can affect
interactions with medical, educational, social care, and criminal justice systems,
and why better recognition and contextual understanding are so important.

Explore the Autism Diagnostic Process

The guide includes an overview of autism diagnosis and places diagnostic
assessment within a wider discussion of identity, presentation,
context, and commonly misunderstood clinical patterns.

Commonly Confused & Controversial Diagnoses

Explore diagnostic areas that can complicate recognition and understanding of autistic presentations.

Autism Can Look Different Across People and Communities

The book examines the specific challenges surrounding autism recognition
and diagnosis in relation to women and girls, BAME communities,
age, class, and other intersecting identities.

Question Familiar Assumptions About Presentation

Explore the particular challenges involved in identifying autistic
presentations among women and girls.

Understand Diagnosis Within a Broader Social Context

Examine the challenges of autism identification and diagnosis in relation
to ethnicity, culture, social expectations, and wider systems.

Autism Recognition Across Real-World Systems

Best Practice for Investigating FII

The resource includes discussion of best practice when investigating
fabricated or induced illness (FII), within the wider context of
misunderstood or missed autistic presentations.

For Multidisciplinary Professionals Working Across Complex Systems

A resource for professionals who need a deeper understanding of
diverse autistic presentations and the diagnostic, educational,
social, and systemic contexts in which autism may be missed or misunderstood.

See the Presentation — Not Just the Stereotype

Develop a more nuanced understanding of autistic identity,
diagnostic complexity, commonly confused presentations,
and the wider systems that influence recognition and support.