Information and Events

Baxter, J., Rutherford, M., & Holmes, S. (2015). The Visual Support Project (VSP): an authority-wide training, accreditation and practical resource for education settings supporting inclusive practice. The Journal of Communication Matters, 29(2), 9-13.

Diagnosis

Maciver, D., Roy, A. S., Johnston, L., Boilson, M., Curnow, E., Johnstone-Cooke, V., & Rutherford, M. Waiting Times and Influencing Factors in Children and Adults Undergoing Assessment for Autism, ADHD, and Other Neurodevelopmental Differences. Autism Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70011

Radley, A., Melia, B., Maciver, D., Rutherford, M., & Boilson, M. (2024). An analysis of prescribing data in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder for adolescents and adults in Scotland. BJPsych Open, 10(5), e143. doi:10.1192/bjo.2024.722

Curnow, E., Utley, I., Rutherford, M., Johnston, L., & Maciver, D. (2023). Diagnostic assessment of autism in adults–current considerations in neurodevelopmentally informed professional learning with reference to ADOS-2. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1258204.

Rutherford, M., Maciver, D., Johnston, L., Prior, S., & Forsyth, K. (2021). Development of a Pathway for Multidisciplinary Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Diagnosis in Children and Young People. Children, 8 (11), 1033.

Rutherford, M., Forsyth, K., McKenzie, K., McClure, I., Murray, A., McCartney, D., … & O’Hare, A. (2018). Implementation of a practice development model to reduce the wait for Autism Spectrum diagnosis in adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(8), 2677-2691.

Rutherford, Marion, Morag Burns, Duncan Gray, Lynne Bremner, Sarah Clegg, Lucy Russell, Charlie Smith, and Anne O’Hare. (2018). Improving efficiency and quality of the children’s ASD diagnostic pathway: Lessons learned from practice. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 48(5), 1579-1595.

Rutherford, M., McKenzie, K., Forsyth, K., McCartney, D., O’Hare, A., McClure, I., & Irvine, L. (2016). Why are they waiting? Exploring professional perspectives and developing solutions to delayed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in adults and children. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 31, 53-65.

Rutherford, M., McKenzie, K., McClure, I., Forsyth, K., O’Hare, A., McCartney, D., & Finlayson, I. (2016). A national study to investigate the clinical use of standardised instruments in autism spectrum disorder assessment of children and adults in Scotland. Research in autism spectrum disorders, 29, 93-100.

McKenzie, K., Forsyth, K., O’Hare, A., McClure, I., Rutherford, M., Murray, A., & Irvine, L. (2016). The relationship between waiting times and ‘adherence’ to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network 98 guideline in autism spectrum disorder diagnostic services in Scotland. Autism, 20(4), 395-401.

McKenzie, K., Forsyth, K., O’Hare, A., McClure, I., Rutherford, M., Murray, A., & Irvine, L. (2015). Factors influencing waiting times for diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in children and adults. Research in developmental disabilities, 45, 300-306.

Mental Health Review

Curnow, E., Rutherford, M., Maciver, D., Johnston, L., Prior, S., Boilson, M., … & Meff, T. (2023). Mental health in autistic adults: A rapid review of prevalence of psychiatric disorders and umbrella review of the effectiveness of interventions within a neurodiversity informed perspective. PloS one, 18(7), e0288275.

Evidence Summaries

Mental Health in Autistic Adults: A Rapid Review of Literature Evidence (2021)

This work was commissioned by Scottish Government and undertaken by the National Autism Implementation Team. Autistic people were included within the team at all stages. We followed the Cochrane rapid review methodology described by Garritty, C., Gartlehner, G., Nussbaumer-Streit, B., King, V. J., Hamel, C., Kamel, C., … & Stevens, A. (2021). Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group offers evidence-informed guidance to conduct rapid reviews. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 130, 13-22.

The study protocol is registered with Prospero and can be found here: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=283570

Research Summary and Appendices can be downloaded here:

Research Summary Mental Health in Autistic Adults 2021

Appendices for Research Summary Mental Health in Autistic Adults 2021

Research Summary Mental Health in Autistic Adults 2021 with Appendices

Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways Learning from Pathfinders Event (2023)

Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways: Learning from Pathfinders Event for professionals

There is growing consensus on the need for

Improved access to assessment, diagnosis and support for neurodivergent adults
A confident, supported and neurodevelopmentally informed workforce
Strong partnerships between professionals across sectors and neurodivergent people

This event on 16th March 2023 was for professionals who want to be part of the change.

Slides from the event are here:

NAIT Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways Learning from Pathfinders Event 16.03.23

Divergent Partners

‘Nothing about us without us’

NAIT are a mixed neurotype team committed to the principle that all work in relation to neurodivergent people should include neurodivergent people in meaningful ways.

We work with a range of divergent partners to learn from their experiences and to be led by the priorities of neurodivergent communities through effective and equal partnerships.

Co-production

NAIT Guide to Co-production with Neurodivergent Communities

National Autism Implementation Team

CIRCLE (2019)

PowerPoint Presentations

CIRCLE Resources

Indicators for Implementation Templates

NAIT Newsletters

Neuro-affirming Community of Practice Bulletins

Read our latest Newsletter here:

Webinars and Events

Silent Appreciation Postcard for use at Local Events

NAIT ‘Beyond Accommodations: Supporting Autistic Professionals in Health and Education’ Webinar 04.06.24

NAIT ‘Developmental Language Disorder in Adults’ Webinar 30.11 23

NAIT ‘Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism’ with Dr Barry Prizant 16.06.23

NAIT ‘Reflections on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Autistic Thinking’ Webinars February 2023

NAIT ‘Anxiety Related Absence’ Webinar 31.05.22

NAIT ‘Supporting Adults with Neurodevelopmental Differences’ Webinar 29.09.21

NAIT ‘Children’s Neurodevelopmental Pathway – Practice Framework’ Webinar 22.06.21

NAIT ‘Supporting the Return to School’ Webinar 04.06.20

NAIT ‘SCERTS Implementation’ Webinar 25.11.21

NAIT Publications

NAIT Book Chapter

NAIT Conference Posters

NAIT Evaluation 2023

Children’s Inclusion and Participation

Visual Support Project