National Autistic Society
We are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.
What is autism - National Autistic Society
What is autism? Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Criteria and tools used in an autism assessment
Understanding the diagnostic criteria. An autism diagnosis should be based on criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11), according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Although many people (including most autistic people) do …
Signs that a child or adult may be autistic - National Autistic Society
In addition to the signs that may be apparent in childhood, general signs in adults include: relating to or recognise themselves in media (such as books and YouTube videos) about autism and/or by autistic content creators. having reached a point of breakdown, severe mental health difficulties or …
What is autism - National Autistic Society
We are registered as a charity in England and Wales (269425) and in Scotland (SC039427). The National Autistic Society is also a company limited by guarantee, registered at Companies House (01205298).
Advice and guidance - National Autistic Society
Providing autistic people, their families, community and healthcare professionals with the most accurate, up-to-date information is an important part of our strategy, in alignment with our Moonshot vision. We have developed a robust process for researching, drafting, publishing and updating digital advice and guidance content.
The causes of autism - National Autistic Society
The causes of autism are still being looked into. Many experts believe that there isn't one specific 'cause', and that there are genetic factors. We are always looking to understand more about autism, and welcome any research in this area. Evidence suggests that autism may be genetic. Scientists have been attempting to identify which genes ...
What we do - National Autistic Society
What we do. What we do. We're here to help the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and their families. Be it running specialist schools, campaigning for improved rights or training companies on being more autism-friendly, we are dedicated to transforming lives and changing attitudes.
What happens during an autism assessment - National Autistic …
An autism assessment is a process of gathering information about you or your child. The professionals conducting the assessment will seek to understand a broad range of information about you or your child to help them to reach a conclusion about whether you or your child is autistic or not. As part of the assessment they should also identify ...
Assessment and diagnosis - National Autistic Society
My diagnosis story: Finty. Our Young Ambassador shares her experience of autism assessment and diagnosis. We are registered as a charity in England and Wales (269425) and in Scotland (SC039427). The National Autistic Society is also a company limited by guarantee, registered at Companies House (01205298).