Autistic people may act in a different way to other people. Autistic people may:
- Find it hard to communicate and interact with other people
- Find it hard to understand how other people think or feel
- Find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable
- Get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events
- Take longer to understand information
- Do or think the same things over and over
Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people.
It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life.
Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a 'cure', but some people need support to help them with certain things.
Brain in Hand
Using Brain in Hand can help you increase your confidence and independence. It makes it easier to manage anxiety, solve problems and do the things that matter to you. It's free and only takes a few minutes to apply.
Visit the Brain in Hand website.
Dynamic Support Register
Although the referral for involvement from CAMHS has not been accepted, we would like to make you aware that children and young people with a learning disability and/or autism may meet the criteria to be added to the Dynamic Support Register. This is a self-referral process with a clinically led assessment tool. The Dynamic Support Register holds information about the child/young person and what areas of their care may require enhanced support. The information on the register helps services to work collaboratively in order to better manage a person’s support and ensure the best possible and most appropriate outcomes in the community in relation to their induvial needs.
Visit the NHS website for further details about the Dynamic Support Register.
Ambitious about Autism
Ambitious about Autism is the national charity for autistic children and young people. They offer support for autistic children and young people to help them to have happy and fulfilling lives that give them dignity, respect, and compassion. They help young people to get into education and/or employability to lead a fulfilling life, better relationships, good health, wellbeing and being an active citizen within their communities.
Visit the Ambitious about Autism website.
Youth Fed
Youth Fed is targeted towards supporting young people who have autism or other learning difficulties, for example, dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder, and language processing disorder. E-mail YourMindMatters@YouthFed.org to request a referral form.
Sesame Workshop
Learn what autism is and how to celebrate and support the amazing in all children.
Visit the Sesame Workshop website.
National Autistic Society
Autism influences how people experience and interact with the world. It is a lifelong neurodivergence and disability. Autistic people are different from each other, but for a diagnosis they must share differences from non-autistic people in how they think, feel and communicate. Learn more about autism on the National Autistic Society website.
Visit the National Autistic Society website.
Autism Hub
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.
Autism Networks
Autism Networks was established in 2022 and it remains a parent-led organisation to this day.
Visit the Autism Networks website.
Asperger's Syndrome Foundation
The Asperger’s Syndrome Foundation is a registered charity based in central London, England. We are committed to promoting awareness and understanding of Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism without a learning disability, which is now diagnosed as High Functioning Autism or Level 1 Autism. The Foundation aims to promote high quality support and services.
Visit the Asperger's Syndrome Foundation website.
Beyond Autism
Beyond Autism's Outreach and Training Team provide support across the country. The website includes useful autism resources.
Visit the Beyond Autism website.
'Making sense of sensory behaviour' booklet
This booklet is a practical approach at home for parents and carers by occupational therapists. This booklet is designed to help us become more aware of the effects of sensory information and how it may impact on life skills and behaviour.
NHS
The NHS guide can help if you or someone you care about is autistic or might be autistic.
Daisy Chain Project
The Daisy Chain Project is an award-winning charity supporting autistic and neurodivergent children, young people and adults and their families.
Visit the Daisy Chain Project website.
Pathological Demand Avoidance Society
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is widely understood to be a profile of autism. One of the most well-known features of PDA is demand avoidance, which is where a person finds it hard to manage everyday tasks or demands, even those they want or need to do. Without understanding and support, PDA can have a profound impact on people’s lives. Our mission is to make life easier by building awareness and understanding of PDA, and providing information, training, and personalised support to everyone to needs it.
Visit the Pathological Demand Avoidance website.
Crossroads Together
Crossroads Together, which is based in Congleton, provides services predominantly across the North West of England. These areas include Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire West and East and Herefordshire. It is one of the leading provider of professional support to carers and those with care needs.
Visit the Crossroads Together website.
Independent Panel for Special Education Advice
The Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA) is the leading charity in the field of SEND law in England. They help you navigate the SEND system and secure the education your child is legally entitled to.
Centre for Autism Neurodevelopmental Disorder and Intellectual Disability
The Centre for Autism Neurodevelopmental Disorder and Intellectual Disability (CANDDID) website providers free training for parents and carers about supporting people with learning difficulties and autism are available.
Wired
Wirral SEND Partnership (SEND IASS) provides free, impartial legally- based information, advice and support to children and young people, those with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) aged 0 – 25 years and their parent/carers and also professionals who work with them.
Autism Connect
Autism Connect is the UK's first free social network for people with autism and their families.
Visit the Autism Connect website.
The Endorphins Group
Whether it’s dance, drama, arts and crafts, gaming, or other games and activities, our safe and supportive inclusive sessions are a great way for SEND children and young people to have fun, make friends, and flourish. They welcome children and young people with a wide range of additional needs, who may need that extra support.
Visit The Endorphins Group website.
Autism Together
Autism Together understand exactly how to support autistic people to maximise their life opportunities. They offer a wide range of specialist support services to autistic adults, alongside support for autistic children and their families.
Visit the Autism Together website.
Smart Bright Training
Smart Bright Training offers a range of SEND and sensory workshops for parents, carers and practitioners. The training workshops have been developed to share information in an engaging and informal format, whilst still providing participants with the key information to further learner’s knowledge and understanding. Their aim is for all participants to leave our training sessions with a better understanding of topics covered. To feel more confident and better equipped to support children and young people in their care and empowered to navigate SEND processes.
Visit the Smart Bright Training website.
Friends for Leisure
Friends for Leisure help disabled children and young people enjoy friendship and leisure.
Visit the Friends for Leisure website.
Cheshire Autism Practical Support
Cheshire Autism Practical Support (CHAPS) is a charity offering advice, practical support and services for all families across Cheshire whether you have a diagnosis of autism or not. They include events, activities, socialising opportunities, and much more.