The Autism Hub is for people who are, or who may be autistic. It is also a useful space for family members, staff, and professionals who support autistic people.
There is lots of information available that will teach you more about what autism is or how autistic traits might affect the way somebody acts, feels, or thinks about.
Where you get an autism assessment will depend on your age and where you live, and whether you are getting support from a community learning disability team.
To learn more about services in your area please visit the accessing an assessment section.
If you are autistic, you are entitled to reasonable adjustments, a Care Act Assessment, and a Care and Treatment Review (if you are at risk of admission to a mental health hospital).
Autistic people are entitled to ‘reasonable adjustments’. This means that people working in health, social care, employment and education should change how they work with autistic people to make accessing services easier and engagement with services more successful.
To access the Reasonable Adjustment section please click here.
If you have been diagnosed with autism, you may be eligible for a Care Act Assessment. This assessment is completed through your local authority. More information about care act assessment eligibility can be found here.
The “Transforming Care” strategy states that autistic people and people with learning disabilities should not be inappropriately admitted to hospital, and commissioners and health professionals need to explore all options to keep people at home wherever possible. This process is called a “Care and Treatment Review”.
If you are an inpatient, you are also entitled to a Care and Treatment review. You can read more in the NHS Care and Treatment Review Policy.
For further information please visit the NHS England Care and Treatment Reviews website.
There is a variety of useful resources available across our website and other sites for people with autism and those supporting people with autism.
‘My Health Passport’ is a resource for autistic people who might need hospital treatment.
The passport is designed to help autistic people to communicate their needs to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. It was developed by Baroness Angela Browning – an National Autistic Society Vice President – in collaboration with The National Autistic Society.
It was independently reviewed in 2017 and updated following comments by autistic people and professionals about how they were using it or wanted to use it.
Download the latest version on the National Autistic Society website.
To learn more about CWP's new Autism Strategy, please visit the Autism Strategy area of our website.
If you have any feedback or questions about the Autism Strategy, you can contact us as detailed below. You might find the tips guide helpful before you contact us.
Regular updates about how the Strategy is being implemented will be linked to this page.
If you want more information about support and services for autistic people, the links below the feedback form may be helpful for you. You can also visit our autism hub for more information.
If you are supporting an autistic person, the following links may be helpful in improving your caring role:
Neuro-affirmative language - .PDF
Take a look at our easy read leaflets on how to develop your Health Action Plan.
Here you will also find some templates that you can fill in and take with you when you attend hospital appointments and admissions. There is more information on health passports for autistic people on the National Autistic Society’s website.
The Government website also provides guidance on the NHS Choice Framework, which sets out patients’ rights to choice in healthcare, where to find the information to help choices, and how to complain if choice isn’t offered.