(England) Autism charity donates 'Teacher's Toolkit' to promote "autism acceptance in schools"
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Feb 16, 2026, Northern Echo: Charity initiative to promote autism acceptance in schools
EDUCATION leaders have welcomed a charity’s initiative to help schools increase support for autistic and neurodivergent students.
The North East Autism Society has developed a downloadable ‘Teacher’s Toolkit’ as a free resource for schools during Schools Autism Acceptance Week, which takes place between March 30 and April 5.
The toolkits are packed with information about autism, lesson plans, and activities to help students celebrate diversity in schools.
The charity is also launching a new ‘action art’ campaign this year. The Acceptance Project will bring together artwork exploring what autism acceptance means and tackling misinformation. . . .
Julia Armstrong, chief executive of Prince Regent Street Trust, which oversees six primary schools on Teesside, said: “Our aim is to make education as inclusive as possible, so it’s invaluable to have the North East Autism Society sharing its expertise in such a proactive and enlightening way.
“We will be making the Teacher’s Toolkit available in all our schools, and we are looking forward to taking part in The Acceptance Project.”
The charity’s initiative has also been backed by the Advance Learning Partnership (ALP), which comprises a mix of 23 secondary and primary schools across County Durham.
The trust recently invested in launching its own training body – the ALP Institute (Teaching, Leadership and Research) – in partnership with Evidence Based Education.
Catherine Hydon, Director of the ALP Institute, said: “The Advance Learning Partnership is committed to the personal development of our staff, and enriching the education of all pupils in our care. We are, therefore, delighted to be working with the North East Autism Society to raise awareness of autism and diversity in our schools.”
Schools Autism Acceptance Week is part of World Autism Acceptance Month, which traditionally takes place in April.
NEAS Chief Executive John Phillipson said: “We fully appreciate the demands placed on schools across the country, so our aim in developing the free toolkit is to make it easier for teachers to celebrate neurodiversity. We are delighted to be working with some forward-thinking education trusts, which are committed to promoting inclusivity in schools.”
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