Why are so Many Autistic Girls Missed in School?

She's bright, well behaved and desperate not to get anything wrong. She causes no trouble in class, then falls apart the moment she gets home. Girls like her are easy to miss, because most of what we've learned to look for in autism came from boys.

Once you know what to look for, you start to see it in anxiety, shyness, masking, friendships that don't quite work, and a gap between the girl at school and the one her parents describe. You'll also learn to support her 'as if' she's autistic while you wait, since the wait for an assessment can be long and the support does no harm either way. Help with naming feelings, a calm space and small breaks through the day all make a difference.

The presenter was diagnosed autistic herself in her thirties, and often wonders what an earlier answer would have changed.