Autism Resources
The National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been offering services, support and advice to help increase opportunities and reduce social isolation for autistic people. Our goal is to build a society that works for autistic people and help improve their lives.
We do this by running:
• a website with extensive information and advice on autism
• contact centres and helplines that responded to over 70,000 enquiries in 2017
• 116 volunteer-led branches offering support and activities for autistic children and adults
• two child and adult diagnosis centres
• eight specialist schools for autistic children
• 80 care centres and services for autistic adults
• training and conferences for education, health and social care professionals
• two quarterly magazines – Your Autism Magazine and Asperger United
• services to work with thousands of shops, businesses and local councils to provide more autism-friendly services and environments
• campaigns to increase public understanding and change government policy to help improve the lives of autistic people.
Autism Research Centre
The ARC is situated within the School of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Cambridge.
It brings together scientists working on autism from around the University of Cambridge. It also has major collaborations with other universities, and works closely with clinical and voluntary sector services.
The ARC has approximately 30 research scientists and support staff, drawn from a range of disciplines (cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, paediatrics, neonatology, genetics, bioinformatics, endocrinology, proteomics, and biochemistry).
www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
Our vision is for all people with severe learning disabilities who display challenging behaviour to have the same life opportunities as everyone else and, with the right support, to live full and active lives in their community.
Our mission is to improve understanding of challenging behaviour, empower families with information and support, and help others to provide better services and more opportunities to people with severe learning disabilities who display behaviours that challenge.
We know there are at least 30,000 families in the UK supporting someone with a severe learning disability whose behaviour can challenge.
Star Institute - For Sensory Processing
To improve the quality of life for children, adolescents and adults with SPD, and their families by providing:
Comprehensive assessment and effective intervention for Sensory Processing Disorder
Rigorous research with our collaborating university-based research partners
Education for caregivers, pediatric professionals, and educators; and
Advocacy for official recognition of SPD worldwide.
Understanding the spectrum (comic)
Fantastic comic on understanding the spectrum by artist Rebecca Burgess
UnderstandtheSpectrum by Rebecca Burgess.pdfPDA Society
The organisation was first established in 1997 by parents of children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a profile on the autism spectrum. The PDA Society became a registered charity in January 2016, and is run by a small board of trustees who are all parents of children with PDA. We provide information, support and training for parents, carers, teachers and individuals with PDA.
Autism Education Trust
The AET’s vision is that all children and young people with autism receive an education that enables them to fulfil their aspirations and engage in society as active citizens.
Our mission is to provide professional development resources and opportunities that support education services and staff in securing positive experiences and outcomes for children and young people with autism.
Our work centres on the promotion of good practice standards for education settings; competency frameworks for practitioners and the provision of a range of professional development training programmes for early years, schools and post 16 settings delivered by local licensed training hubs and supported by our regional strategic partners.