PANDAS Online
PANDAS Online is a platform that provides resources and support for autistic young people. We currently offer 2 courses, NeuroBears and NeuroBears Cubs, which are specialised courses for autistic young people and their families to learn more about the autistic experience.
What do the courses cover?
- Autistic identity
- Examples & personal experiences
- Autism & sensory experience
- Autistic overwhelm, meltdowns & shutdowns
- A brief history of autism
- A positive strengths-based diagnosis model
- Autistic myths
- Neurodivergence - autism + environment = outcome
- What autism isn't - co-occurring conditions
- Autistic communication
- Autistic masking
- Spoon theory and autistic burnout
Who are the courses for?
Created by autistic adults and co-developed with autistic young people, both courses offer an authentic and relatable approach to exploring the autistic experience. Primarily aimed at children under 14, the courses are also suitable for families and trusted adults who wish to provide support.
The courses are designed to fit seamlessly into home and school environments, promoting important conversations and cultivating a positive understanding of autism. This enables children and their safe adults to connect and support one another more effectively.
Through NeuroBears and NeuroBears Cubs, families, educational institutions and organisations can offer meaningful, practical support that empowers young autistic individuals to thrive.
NeuroBears Cubs
NeuroBears Cubs is designed specifically for autistic children under 8 and their families. Similarly to NeuroBears, it’s designed to support families in having important conversations around identity and sensory needs and give children the tools to understand and communicate their needs and identity.
Alongside the course, there are workbooks designed to help children express their sensory preferences through writing, drawing, or using visual guides to identify what works best for them.
NeuroBears Cubs is designed to nurture self-esteem and self-acceptance from the very beginning, inside a safe and understanding environment.
NeuroBears
NeuroBears is a learning course designed for autistic young people aged 8-14 and their families. The course consists of video content and accompanying workbooks, making it accessible and interactive.
Key benefits include fostering a positive understanding of autism, encouraging self-advocacy, and helping families communicate effectively about the autistic experience.
Through relatable themes and practical strategies, NeuroBears aims to support young individuals on their journeys toward self-acceptance and understanding their identity. It is one of the only research-backed training course for young people.
One of her notable achievements, PANDAS Online, offers courses designed specifically for autistic young people and their families. Using bears as a tool to communicate complex ideas and subject matters, the courses provides a framework for exploring concepts such as identity, autistic burnout, observational models and co-occurring conditions.
Understanding that there is no ‘one size fits all’ to autism, the courses are designed to be a starting point to enable young autistic people and their safe adults to share and learn more about the autistic experience. This courses are one of the only research-backed training resources [Link to NeuroBears section or direct to the paper itself?] for young people, and are suitable for families, caregivers, educational institutions, local authorities, professionals, and organisations.
Since 2023, Nic has participated in the Newcastle University study, Autistic Voice: Sharing Autistic Children’s Experiences and Insights, which aims to capture and analyse the everyday experiences of autistic children.
Additionally, Nic co-hosts a podcast with Kate Fox titled Neurotypicals Don’t Juggle Chainsaws, where they discuss a range of topics related to neurodivergence, drawing on their personal insights and experiences.
Prior to her work with PANDAS Online and NeuroBears, Nic had almost a decade working within the charity sector as chair/safeguarding lead of various small to medium sized charities all specialising in neurodivergence, arts and inclusion. From youth services, youth clubs, family support, trips, the circus, and more, Nic is passionate about creating safe spaces for autistic people of all ages.
Learn more at PANDAS Online
