The SPELL Framework
The SPELL framework is an ethical and practical method of understanding and responding to the widely ranging needs of autistic children and adults, and to promote their wellbeing and potential.
The focus of SPELL is on what we as teachers, parents, professionals or other supporters can do to make the world more enjoyable, meaningful, accessible, and less traumatic for autistic children and adults.
This is achieved by developing empathy for the autistic experience: recognising, and understanding the potential for joy, development, and opportunity, and addressing commonly experienced difficulties.
The intention is to make the concept of autism accessible through this shared understanding and connection that is valid and inclusive, and which avoids ‘othering’ autistic children or adults. It is recognised that what is good for the wellbeing of autistic people is usually good for all.
The SPELL framework, including the self-audit, is now used and valued by practitioners and clinicians not just in educational settings, but also across multiple inpatient and community health services, plus health and justice settings.
SPELL is intended to be a meaningful, easily understood mnemonic that routinely addresses essential needs. Additionally, it provides a basis and context for other approaches, e.g., Universal Design (UD), and a means of auditing quality through the SPELL Audit – ‘learning through doing’.
Training involves dialogue around the principles and five domains of SPELL, an exchange of experiences, and reflection on applications of the framework to individual practice. The aim is also to build and sustain local capacity through short, comprehensive training workshops, sustained by licensed in-house trainers.
Download the progression summary >>
Click here to book a place on our NEW online Stage 1 SPELL framework training course.
For further information on the SPELL framework, including booking in-person training, or to discuss any of the 3 Stages of the SPELL training programme with us, please get in touch
AT-Autism provides SPELL training based on the newly revised SPELL handbook. This 3rd edition of the handbook will be published in autumn 2025.
