We are thrilled to share an update from the BDA Autism Sub-Group, especially in the run up to Autistic Pride Day on 18 June. What a busy and exciting time it’s been for us! Following a successful relaunch last year, we’ve been hard at work creating a supportive, educational and collaborative space for dietetic and nutrition professionals with an interest in autism. Our aim is simply to equip members with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to provide inclusive, effective care for autistic individuals.
Here's what we’ve been working on:
Launch of a free education programme for the next year
We’ve rolled out a programme that includes:
- Free webinars, led by experts with lived experience and experts in the field, exploring a range of topics relevant to autism and dietetics. Our first webinar was recorded and made available to all BDA members, as we felt it was important that every dietetic professional has the knowledge in the current thinking and recommendations surrounding neurodiversity. You can access the recording, which will be free for all BDA members for 12 months, here.
- Free peer support supervision, offering members a safe space to reflect on their practice, share experiences and learn from one another. We know that networking at these events brings real value, from building confidence to sparking new ideas and partnerships.
Publication of the BDA's Autism Position Paper
We are proud to have published a renewed position paper that sets out our collective stance on working with autistic individuals and the principles we believe should underpin all dietetic care in this area. We highly recommend all nutrition and dietetic professionals take the time to read this important document and consider the implications for their own practice. You can access the paper here.
Updating written content in this area
We have written the chapter on autism in the latest edition of the Manual of Dietetic Practice and the Clinical Paediatric Dietetics. Later this year, we hope to develop more resources and clinical guidelines for providing care for autistic individuals.
Relaunching social media
We know how important it is to stay connected, share ideas and spread the word about good practice, which is why we have relaunched our social media presence. We currently have an active Facebook group and we’re now exploring additional platforms to ensure we are reaching as many members as possible. We would love to know your preferences for the platforms you’d like us to use. Please share your thoughts via our Google Form.
Looking ahead
A key aim for the group is to set up an advisory group of people with lived experience of autism to co-produce the work we do. If you are interested in supporting this workstream, we’d love for you to get in touch by emailing us at [email protected].
If you’re not already a member of the sub-group, you can join by signing up for either the Paediatric or the Mental Health Specialist Groups - membership to the Autism Sub-Group is then free!
We would love you to join the group and help us to spread excellent practice. You can do this via the members-only section of the BDA website under “My groups and branch.” If you’re not a member, we would still love to hear your views and feedback, which you can send to the committee at [email protected].
