Review: The Amazing Autistic Brain Cards: 150 Cards for Positive Autism Discussions

I was given a set of these for Christmas and was so impressed that I thought that I would share a review with you all. This is not a promotion post or in any way affiliated with the creator or anyone else.

The set was put together as a resource by a clinical psychologist, Glòria Durà-Vilà, as a way to help professionals and parents to talk to children and young people about their autism diagnosis. The cards are beautifully illustrated by Rebecca Tatternorth. Information on where to get them can be found at the bottom of the page.

The cards come in a secure, beautifully decorated box which feels pretty solid. There is an extensive booklet inside which explains what the cards are for and how to use them.

The cards themselves are beautifully decorated and come in two types. The first type is a yellow set, which lists strengths such as ‘I am self-reliant’, I am passionate’, etc. The second set lists struggles, such as ‘I struggle with showing my true feelings’, ‘I struggle with accepting my mistakes’, etc.

All of the cards are laminated so that the statements can be amended with a dry-wipe pen, and there are blank ones in each colour as well for children to add extra ones if they feel that anything has been missed.

How we used the cards

We tested these as a family when our daughter was having a bad day and had declared that she didn’t like being different from everyone else and didn’t like being autistic. So we got the cards out and had a good look at them.

We gave our daughter the yellow ones and asked her to pick out the cards that she felt described her strengths. These included I am kind, I am determined, and many others. We also asked her to make a pile of ones that she didn't think described her, and a 'maybe' pile as well. R ended up with quite a big pile of cards which described her strengths. It took quite a while as there were a lot of yellow cards to look through.

Next, she looked through the blue cards – again, there were quite a lot to look through. Although she had picked out quite a few, the pile was noticeably smaller than that of the yellow ‘strengths’ cards.

We used the examples she had picked to talk through her struggles, and to emphasise to her how many strengths she has and how her autism has given her many gifts as well.

After this I and my husband used the cards in the same way to show our daughter that although we are all autistic, we have different strengths and struggles. It was a really positive way to help all three of us to understand one another better and to help us as a family.

I would really recommend these cards to any family who has a child or young person who has recently been diagnosed – or who is feeling bad about themselves and needs to be reminded of how awesome they are, regardless of when they may have received their diagnosis.

The cards are available from a number of online retailers, including Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and Amazon, and retail from £22.99.

Laura Webb is a director of NeonDaisy