Getting help with autism

Getting the right support in early can help to improve a child or young person’s quality of life. There is a range of support and advice available prior to diagnosis that can support with some of the symptoms that affect how a child lives day-to-day.

The following resources focus on autism generally and can help you understand and cope with some of the difficulties that arise with this condition.

• All about Autistic Spectrum Disorders introductory booklet  is free to download from the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities 
• Ambitious about Autism have created a right from the start parent toolkit which includes lots of information about what to do if you think your child might have autism. They also have lots of other helpful resources on their website to support children, young people, families and professionals.
• Asperger’s Syndrome Foundation is committed to promoting awareness and understanding of Asperger’s Syndrome. The Foundation aims to promote high quality support and services, and to enable people with Asperger’s Syndrome to develop into members of the community who are respected for their contribution and recognised for their unique differences. 
• Autism Central for Parents and Carers offers a wealth of resources for parents, carers and personal assistants of autistic people in England – from articles and learning materials to signposting you to services and support in your local area
• Autism Initiatives provides a range of person centred services throughout the UK. The charity provides services to children and adults, and encompasses education, residential houses, supported living and outreach services. 
• Autism Speaks’ goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. They are an American based charity and so their local support offers are not available to individuals in the UK however, they do provide a range of resources on their website for individuals with autism, as well as families, professionals that support people with autism.
• Child Autism UK provide a helpline for parents and carers of children with autism. They also provide services to enable children to overcome difficulties with communication, learning and life skills and give families the techniques and strategies to Child Autism UK also provides training and a network for ABA professionals working with young children.
• The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. They have a range of articles and resources relating to autism.
• Disability Living Allowance are for children aged under 16 who have difficulties walking or need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability
• Merlin’s Magic Wand is an international children's charity dedicated to creating magical experiences for children who need them most
• My Family Our Needs website provide hints and tips about planning days out when considering accessibility needs.
• National Autistic Society (NAS) are the leading UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger’s syndrome) and their families. They provide information, support services and campaign for a better world for people with autism. Their autism directory also allows you to search local and national services and support available to people with autism, their families and people who work with them. They also have resources on what autism is.
• The NHS England Transforming Care programme is about making health and care services better so that more people with a learning disability or both can live in the community, with the right support, and close to home. Their website provides information about what they do, how you can get involved, case stories and resources (including easy read guidance).
• Patient UK: Information on Autism provides Information about Autistic Spectrum Disorders
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for children aged over 16 who can help with extra living costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition.
• Research Autism UK - Tree of Hope is a crowdfunding charity that helps children and young people with a disability or illness by providing their families with support in raising the funds they need for specialist care. 
• Special Needs Jungle aim to highlight resources and inspire and empower families to do this successfully by providing resources, tips, facts and examples.
• Spectrum provide news and analysis of advances in autism research in and reader friendly format. They report on the context and impact of research findings and provide articles from experts in their fields on topics and areas that are of particular interest to their community.
• The Carers Trust – Days Out find help and support in your area.
• The CEA Cinema Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema
• The sleep hygiene in children information leaflet (PDF) was produced by Great Ormond Street Hospital. Having good sleep hygiene can help your child both to settle to sleep and to stay asleep, and there are several things that parents can do to aid this.
• Thinking Autism is a charity that provides information and support to families and individuals affected by autism with the aim of improving quality of life and reducing disabling symptoms of autism
  • They host a number of live events to support families. Local events provide people a chance to meet and exchange information and experiences with others. They often feature a talk by a local practitioner or parent.
  • Thinking Autism Roadshows generally feature three speakers, are free to members and offer a chance for participants to learn and socialize.
  • Our autism conferences, generally every two years, are in every way on a much larger scale than the Roadshows and feature international speakers.
  • We also offer our members live Facebook events which feature professional speakers from all over the UK and wider, who share information about various options for improving quality of life for people with autism.     
• Visual Supports and Beyond deliver training in understanding autism, visual supports, behaviour and other areas
• Young Minds is a national organisation to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people