What Does The National Autistic Society Do

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A meltdown is an intense response to;an;overwhelming situation.;It happens when someone becomes completely overwhelmed by their situation and temporarily loses;control of their behaviour.;;

This page gives you an overview. For more information about how to anticipate meltdowns and minimise their frequency,;select from the menu above or the guide link;below.

Dont Forget Me The Importance Of Sibling Support

Wednesday, Sep 01, 2021

Rachels face lights up anytime she talks about Josh, her younger brother with autism. Hes so funny, she says. He goes around the house making sure all the lights are turned off even when were still in the room. When Rachel is feeling down, Josh is quick to cheer her up with a dog

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Why The Autism Strategy Is Important

National Autistic Society campaigners have long demanded better support and services for autistic people, for instance;through ourNot Enoughand;Left;Strandedcampaigns;and by highlighting inequalities across society.;

Before the pandemic,;four;in10 parents told;us their childs school didnt meet their needs. Half;said;their child waited for more than a year for support to be provided at school.;This was devastating for autistic children and for their families too.;And, as we wrote in;SNJ last year,;the pandemic;disproportionately impacted the mental health and education of autistic children;and young people.;The;Governments strategy;has;committed to tackle;many of these inequalities with some concrete proposals and funding;in its first year.;;

Six;in 10 young autistic people we spoke to;said;the main thing that would make school better for them was having a teacher who understood;autism.;;A key part of the strategy;for children and young people;is;the promise to deliver autism;training;to educational professionals,;to help them understand autism in a meaningful way and better support autistic pupils.;

There are also;important commitments to deliver an anti-bullying campaign starting in September 2021 and, crucially, to;reduce diagnosis waiting times and;improve;mental health support for young autistic people. Its unacceptable that some children have to wait many months and even years for a diagnosis and that around 70% of autistic people;develop mental health problems.;;

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Organisation Aims / Mission / Values

• Founded in 1962, we are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Our goal is to help transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people.
• To transform lives by providing support, information and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers.
• To change attitudes by improving public understanding of autism and helping businesses, local authorities and government to provide more autism-friendly spaces, deliver better services and improve laws.
• Our vision. A society that works for autistic people.
• We are determined to share the knowledge we’ve gained over the last 50 years, so more people are able to make informed decisions about their lives. Find out about our helplines, our local, volunteer-run branches, our membership programme, our training for family members, our parent to parent service for parents and carers of autistic children and adults, and our online community, which can help you get the information and advice you need.
• Our support for professionals includes training courses, conferences, consultancy and an Autism Accreditation programme to help professionals working with autistic people gain the knowledge they need. We also offer support for employers to help you to understand how to attract autistic employees into your workplace.

Make A Donation In Support Of Autism

Your tax-deductible gift will help support autism education, awareness, advocacy, research, and most importantly, enable us to assist families living with autism. Our online donation form is fast, easy and secure.

The Autism Society is a not-for-profit 501 organization. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Our federal tax ID number is 52-1020149.

The Autism Society does not solicit funds through telemarking. This ensures the majority of the donation is used directly to improve the lives of individuals affected by autism.

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Laurie Dougherty Named 2021 Roman Award Winner

Tuesday, Sep 14, 2021

Laurie Dougherty has worked at the Fairview House, one of the Autism Society of North Carolinas residential programs in western North Carolina, since the home opened in 2004. For her contribution to the success of the home and the residents it serves, Dougherty has been named the 2021 winner of the John and Claudia Roman

Axcis Continue Sponsorship Of The National Autistic Society For A Further 4 Years

As proud, long-term sponsors of the National Autistic Society and nasen, we take our charitable partnerships seriously here at Axcis. Thats why we are thrilled to announce that we have just signed on for a further 4 years with the National Autistic Society. Find out more here.

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What Does The National Autistic Society Say About Our Continued Partnership

Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society has this to add:

We are pleased to announce that we are renewing our long-standing partnership with Axcis Education for another four years. Axcis have been champions of our work since 2011 and are an important part of our efforts to create a society that works for autistic people.

As valued partners of our charity, Axcis have supported a range of important initiatives. These include sponsoring our newsletters for autism professionals, teachers and school staff, and supporting our World Autism Awareness Schools Resources and our online Professional Practice content. In addition to this, we are looking forward to Axcis supporting a series of Spectrum Live broadcasts.

We are extremely thankful for the support of Axcis and their staff and look forward to continuing our impactful partnership.

Reach Out To Your Local Affiliate

The Autism Societys affiliates provide a number of ways in which individuals and families to;get involved, obtain support and share their experiences with others in their communities. Our affiliates are an obvious place to turn for encouragement, accurate information and education. Find an affiliate near you.

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Inclusion Of Autistic People

A minority of the members on the Board of Trustees are autistic/have autism.

The National Autistic Society believes in listening to autistic people, as described in its mission page:

“We will involve, inform, and empower people living with autism.

We will champion the rights and interests of people living with autism.”

It is slowly increasing its use of identity-first language to reflect the preferences of the autistic adults whom they are describing. It also recognizes the neurodiversity movement and encourages parents of autistic children to educate themselves on autistic perspectives.

About The Autism Society

The Autism Society of America has been improving the lives of all affected by autism for over 50 years and envisions a world where individuals and families living with autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued. We provide advocacy, education, information and referral, support, and community at national, state and local levels through our strong nationwide network of Affiliates.

Founded in 1965 by Dr. Bernard Rimland, Dr. Ruth Sullivan and many other parents of children with autism, the Autism Society is the leading source of trusted and reliable information about autism. Through its national network, the Autism Society has spearheaded numerous pieces of federal, state and local legislation, including the 2006 Combating Autism Act, the first federal autism-specific law. The Autism Societys website is one of the most visited websites on autism in the world and our on-line resource database, Autism Source, and National Contact Center provide information and service referrals to thousands of people each year.

Each year, people with autism, families and professionals volunteer thousands of hours to help the Autism Society achieve its mission of improving the lives of all those affected by autism. To each and every one of you, thank you.

Learn more about us by visiting our history page.

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What Is Autism Accreditation

Next Steps And Getting Involved

The autism strategy is underpinned by legally binding guidance to councils. Each council and NHS body;now;needs to look at the;strategy;to see how it can improve its local services. Nearly every council has an ‘Autism Lead’ or an ‘Autism Partnership Board’ who oversee the carrying out of the strategy. You can make sure the strategy works for autistic people in your area by;joining;our campaigns;or;getting involved with your local Autism Partnership Board;through your council ;

At the National Autistic Society,;we;will;keep working with our campaigners and branches to;keep pushing;for;ambitious;investment in autistic people beyond the first year of this strategy and for the SEND review to lead to meaningful changes. If this happens, the strategy could truly be a significant step towards a society that works for;autistic children and young people.;;;

Find out more about autism, the strategy and;how to;get involved: autism.org.uk;;

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Richard Elliot Is Our Current Charity Champion A High

in Features

24.12.2020

I am delighted to be Charles Stanleys Charity Champion this year, supporting the National Autistic Society . I shall explain why this is close to my heart in a moment. But first, Id like to explain what Charles Stanley gets out of these events because they are just as important to us as a firm as they are to the charities that will benefit financially.

The fundraising events that we organise are important externally as the money raised is always directed at doing something good somewhere in the world. But the Charity of the Year is just as important internally too.;

The events supporting our nominated charity have become an integral part of the social fabric of Charles Stanley itself. The firm comes together to help the charity and by helping the good cause, bonds between staff get stronger as we work together to make a positive contribution to the world. This means the team and teamwork at Charles Stanley get stronger too. This is a genuine delete win-win situation for both the charity and the firm.

Why I support the NAS

I have two children who are both on the autism spectrum and my wife and I deal with the issues that this presents every single day.

One of the biggest struggles for children with autism involves communication. As they develop, this inability to communicate effectively with others can often and unsurprisingly lead to a degree of frustration.

What is autism?

What does the NAS do?

Sign Up For Autism Society Action Alerts

The Autism Societys history and mission are grounded in its grassroots efforts to empower individuals and families to educate and advocate for themselves and their loved ones. In addition, the Autism Society is active in the public policy arena and encourages our members to get involved and take action on important issues through Action Alerts on our website and in our online newsletter. The Autism Societys Action Alerts will inform you of important national legislation, giving you a chance to make your voice heard by your congressperson.;Contact us to receive Action Alerts.

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Keep Up To Date With Send: Sign Up To New Post Alerts

With Tim Nicholls, Head of Policy at the National Autistic Society;

If you’re seeking an NHS diagnosis for autism for your child or yourself, you are still almost certain to have to wait a significant period of time. It also still takes persistence, as it’s quite possible that before you get an appointment, you’ll be told by a non-specialist health or education practitioner that it can’t be autism because they “do eye contact”, or seem to be able to mix socially, or some other explanation that isn’t supported by up-to-date evidence.

Once diagnosed, finding the right education, employment, or support for independence and living, is likely to be difficult. The 2009 Autism Act was meant to improve things, but it’s taken until 2021 to include under-18s in this, the third Autism Strategy for England: The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026.

The Government thinks England has, “…made significant headway in tackling the inequalities people face over the last 10 years… Although weve come so far over the last decade, there must be no limit to the ambitions of autistic people; they should have the same opportunities as everyone else in society.”

So now the strategy includes children and young people, what does it actually mean in practice? Tim Nicholls, Head of Policy at the National Autistic Society, has written for SNJ to explain more.;

Support Programmes For Parents And Carers

EarlyBird , EarlyBird Plus , Healthy Minds and Teen Life are support programmes for parents and carers, offering advice and guidance on strategies and approaches to working with;young autistic children. The programmes work on understanding autism, building confidence to encourage interaction and communication, and understanding and supporting behaviour.

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List Of Nas Schools And Facilities

The NAS manages a number of residential schools in the United Kingdom.

• Anderson School near Bristol and in Chigwell, Essex for pupils/students between 11 and 19 years old
• Broomhayes School & Children’s Centre in Westward Ho! and near Bideford, Devon, which has now been turned into an adult residential facility since the school got close to reaching its 30th Anniversary
• Church Lawton School in Church Lawton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire for academic pupils/students
• Daldorch House School in Ayrshire, Scotland for autistic adults
• Helen Allison School in Gravesend and near Meopham, Kent for pupils/students aged between 4 and 22 years old
• Radlett Lodge School in Hatfield and in Radlett, Hertfordshire for pupils/students aged between 4 and 22 years old
• Robert Ogden School in Thurnscoe near Rotherham, Yorkshire for pupils/students aged between 5 and 19 years old
• Sybil Elgar School in Southall, Ealing and Acton, West London for pupils/students aged between 4 and 22 years old
• Thames Valley School in Reading, Berkshire for academic pupils/students

Information And Advice For Autistic People Friends And Families

We are determined to share the knowledge we’ve gained over the last 50 years, so more people are able to make informed decisions about their lives. Find out about our helplines, our local, volunteer-run branches, our membership programme, our training for family members, our parent to parent service for autistic adults, and our online community, which can help you get the information and advice you need.

For more information please visit:

Contacts

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What Are The Benefits Of Being Accredited

• a more autism-focused service
• increased expertise in supporting autistic people
• foundation for informing strategic planning
• better outcomes for the autistic people you support/work with
• reassurance for families/carers
• increase in referrals to the service/school
• evidence for commissioning bodies
• ongoing development for the service/school.;

Social Media And Forums

There are many people with experience of autism offering support and sharing their stories on forums and social media.

You do not have to talk to others in online groups, but it can be helpful to look at what they’re saying.

A good place to start is the groups run by autism charities. But bear in mind the NHS does not monitor these sites.

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The New Autism Strategy Is A Huge Moment

The Government;recently;released;its;long-awaited;autism strategy;for England and the first one to include autistic children and young people.;It;sets;out;how the Government;plans to;support autistic;children and adults;over the next five years, with;£75;million;of;funding for the first year of the strategy. It includes;important;commitments to;train education professionals in autism,;tackle long diagnosis waiting times,;and;improve the public’s understanding of autism.;

The National Autistic Society;and our supporters have been campaigning for an ambitious and fully funded strategy for a long time.;So,;this is a huge moment. But true change for autistic children and young people will depend on the Governments upcoming SEND review;and;the;funding;it dedicates to;future years of the strategy.;

Real People Real Stories

• Play to your strengths! Success looks different for each person. Find out what it looks like for you.

  Emmanuel Abua

  ;;Ventures ATL Employee

• I celebrate myself for how I think and what it is that I value in life. I rest easy knowing that nobody can take that away from me.

  Kyle Corbett

  ;;Ventures ATL Employee

• Dont give up. It may take some time to find full-time employment consider volunteering to show you can be helpful and to develop your skills until the right opportunity comes along.

  David Hurwitz

• So, autism makes me a super-hero. Im like Wonder Woman, right mommy?

  Isabella Bracco

  ;;SC Braccos Daughter

• This little boy, who fights the challenges of autism every day with such incredible energy and enthusiasm, not only teaches me what it means to be a dad, but what it means to be a man.

  Dan Olawski

  ;;Father

• Autism is not a burden or some super-secret weapon. Its simply part of ones identity. Its taken me 17 years to learn to accept myself and my diagnosis.

  Lee Passehl

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