The information shared here is not exhaustive. Learning about Autism and how to best support Autistic people is a journey. The information below is generic. It is important to speak with the person you are working with so that you can identify what they need from you or your service.
Information for Citizens Advice or Wellbeing Hub staff
You will find it useful to learn about Autism and how communication and the environment are important in supporting Autistic adults access services.
The National Autistic Society website has a lot of information about Autism and what Autistic Adults have said helps them.
Information for Employers
It is important for employers to recognise that the needs and challenges of neurodivergent people are specific to the individual. An individual’s needs may also vary over time, depending on personal and environmental factors (e.g. stress levels or environmental triggers).
The National Autistic Society has developed a guide to help employers support the needs of employees who are Autistic.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) have a Guide To Reasonable Adjustments to help employers and employees to think about reasonable adjustments for specific needs at work.
Information for Therapists
It is important that therapists adapt the ways in which they deliver their therapy to suit the individual needs of individual. The therapist will need to explore these with the person and recognise that needs may become apparent as the intervention progresses. Adaptations may include changing language, focus on concrete elements of therapy (not always), using visual methods (e.g., drawing out a formulation or thinking pattern). Autistic people are not always able to formulate or communicate their goals and may need the therapist to support this through observation of the themes as they arise.
The National Autistic Society and Mind have produced a guide for therapists working with Autistic children and adults.
The British Psychological Society has also produced useful guidance on best practice for working with Autism.
Information for Healthcare Providers (Plymouth)
You will find it useful to learn about Autism and how communication and the environment are important in supporting Autistic adults access services.
The National Autistic Society website has a lot of information about Autism and what Autistic Adults have said helps them.
The National Autistic Society and Mind have produced a guide for therapists working with autistic children and adults.
Your local hospital may have a service for all adults who do not have a learning disability diagnosed with Autism, or who identify as Autistic. This service is to offer individuals on the autistic spectrum a better experience when accessing hospital services.
Derriford healthcare staff can access the UHP service here.
Information for Educators
People may share their diagnosis with you. This may be difficult for them to do. It is important you allow them space and time for this, and work with them to identify their support needs. They are entitled to reasonable adjustments as per the Equality and Diversity Act and Autism Act. It is important to recognise that Autistic learners often have pockets of academic strengths alongside pockets of academic weaknesses. This means they may need a lot more support in some areas than others. For example, support in planning, organising, problem solving, understanding expectations around work tasks, peer relationships, and elements of reading/writing/arithmetic should be considered. Most learning environments have good pathways in place for Autistic adults. If you are not sure, please check with your student support service. If good understanding and supports are not in place in your learning environment, you may find it helpful to share this information with the programme leads.
The National Autistic Society have a page about further education and starting college or university.
There is also a best practice guide for universities that may be useful.
If you need some advice or consultation, you can contact P.A.S.S. Advice Service [email protected] who may be able to offer some information or resources.
Information for Social Care
It is important for people working in social care to recognise that the needs and challenges of neurodivergent people are specific to the individual. An individual’s needs may also vary over time, depending on personal and environmental factors (e.g. stress levels or environmental triggers).
Statutory Guidance: The Care Act (2014); Department of Health (2015) ‘Statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the Adult Autism Strategy’, London: Department of Health. The National Autism Strategy for England was launched with the Autism Act 2009, and the ‘Fulfilling and rewarding lives’ strategy which followed and its update, ‘Think Autism’.
SCIE have information about working with autistic people and understanding how to overcome the common barriers.