Light sensitivity

My 16-year-old daughter has recently been diagnosed with ASD and we suspect ADHD is also present but there is no referral pathway for assessment in our area until she is 19. Thankfully school have been fantastic and are assuming ADHD also needs support without the official guidance.

She is high functioning and unbelievably resilient. She has stepped into 6th form full of confidence and excitement but 3 weeks in and the cracks are beginning to show. One of the areas I feel I should be able to easily help her with is her light sensitivity, but I don't know where to start. School is going to turn down the white boards to reduce the glare and turn off some of the overhead lights (they are all strip lights which are well known to cause light issues). She has been told about tinted glasses, but when I've googled all sorts of things come up. Do I go to an optician for this or is it something the ASD support team can help me with? 

  • Hi

    I am really pleased her school are supportive.

    The schools adjustments will help her massively and she may find that she doesn't need the glasses after the change however would be good for her if she had them just in case. Personally, i have never had them but just done a google and you can buy then online, not sure if they are any good though, so maybe speak to Senco at her school. however if she already wears glasses then probably speak to her optician first. 

    I wish her luck in 6th form, i am really enjoying 6th form, hope she does too

    Alisha xx

  • Hello ,

    I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is struggling with light sensitivity. You may find it useful to look through some previous community  threads on this topic, which may include some useful advice:

    https://community.autism.org.uk/search?q=light%20sensitivity

    I hope this helps,

    ChloeMod