We champion the needs and aspirations of autistic children, young people and adults.

Our commitments:

• reducing waiting times for autism assessments
• improving autism diagnostic pathways, including support before and after diagnosis
• developing and piloting an autism-specific health check
• ensuring health services make reasonable adjustments for autistic people
• expanding our STOMP and STOMP-STAMP work to reduce overmedication of autistic people
• working with NHS England partners so autistic people with complex needs can access  personal health budgets
• ensuring autistic children with complex needs have a designated keyworker
• helping local providers reduce avoidable admissions to mental health hospitals
• helping local providers deliver person-centred mental health inpatient care, closer to home
• promoting employment of autistic people and the NHS as a good employer

Find out more about the work of our National Autism team

Working with autistic people and their families

We involve autistic people and their families in all our work. The list below may help you consider individual needs.

• Getting language right around autism
• How to make meetings accessible for autistic people
• Make links with local autism groups. Contact your local council or voluntary services to find out about groups near you.
• Find out more about what autism is and how it affects people and understand the characteristics of autism needed for a diagnosis

Meeting the needs of autistic adults in mental health services

National guidance on meeting the needs of autistic adults in mental health services provides advice on how to improve the quality, accessibility and acceptability of care and support for autistic adults to meet their mental health needs, in the community and inpatient settings.

This guidance compliments the national guidance to support integrated care boards to commission acute mental health inpatient services for adults with a learning disability and autistic adults and is for all mental health services and system partners.

Videos

Alexis Quinn, Lived Experience Advisor in our Autism team, reflects on her experiences of pregnancy and childbirth as an autistic parent.

How to get involved in our work

Please see get involved page to learn how you can have your say in our work.