Happiness Heroes was part of our You Need To Know campaign and celebrated the people and organisations, and in particular mental health practitioners, who make a positive difference to the lives of people with autism.
Please read the stories below of people who have played a huge role in helping people with autism lead happy and healthy lives.
Daniela Nanova, ballet teacher
Daniela Nanova, a ballet and gymnastics teacher from Birmingham, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero for training an 11-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome. Find out more.
Sheila Adams and Debra Cooper, Librarians
Two local librarians, Sheila Adams and Debra Cooper, who work at the Bartley Green Library in Birmingham, have been nominated as Happiness Heroes by Miles Walker, aged 11, who has Asperger syndrome, and his brother Curtis, aged 8, who has autism. Find out more.
Lesley Dougan, Mental Health Support Worker 
Lesley Dougan, who works at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, was nominated as a Happiness Hero by 16-year-old Thomas Whalley, who has autism, and his mum, Mandy. Lesley has worked with Thomas since he was four years old. Find out more.
Jane Hitchin, Dinner Lady
Jane was nominated for the award by her son Peter, who has Asperger syndrome. The accolade was presented to Jane at our You Need To Know (YNTK) campaign launch at The Empire Cinema in Leicester Square. Find out more.
Jennifer Roe, Teaching Assistant
Jennifer, a specialist Teaching Assistant from Buckinghamshire, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by nine-year-old science fan Teigen Sethi, who has Asperger syndrome. "Mrs Roe is my key worker and the best teaching assistant I have ever had", says Teigen. "I wanted to nominate her for the way she has helped me to cope and settle in to my new school." Find out more.
John Webster, Training Co-ordinator
John Webster, a Training Co-ordinator at Helen Allison School, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero for his role helping children with autism. The award was presented to John at our You Need To Know campaign launch at The Empire Cinema in Leicester Square on 14 March 2011. Find out more.
Sue Belton, head teacher
Sue Belton, the head teacher at St Helena's Church of England Primary School, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by one of her pupils, eight-year-old Imogen Reeves. Imogen has Asperger syndrome and Sue acts as her special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) to ensure that Imogen is able to attend mainstream school and gets the best possible education. Find out more.
Samantha Seaward, learning disability nurse
Local community learning disability nurse, Samantha Seaward, from Caerleon, Newport, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Kathryn Hickey, mother of 17-year-old Sophie, who has high-functioning autism. Kathryn has nominated Samantha because of the calming influence she has on Sophie, and the change she has brought about in her behaviour. Find out more.
Neil Morrissey, actor
Our north east regional councillor, PJ Hughes, has nominated award-winning actor Neil Morrissey as his Happiness Hero. PJ, from Sharrow in Sheffield, who has Asperger syndrome, met Neil while he was touring with the stage version of 'Rain Man' and PJ was helping at an NAS stand at the theatre in Sheffield. Neil and PJ chatted and Neil made sure to look out for PJ in the audience when performing that night. Find out more.
Peter 'Jonker' Johnson, ice hockey coach
Local ice hockey coach Peter 'Jonker' Johnson has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Don Clegg, whose eight-year-old son Harry has autism. Harry has been training with the Kingston River Rats U10s ice hockey team, based in Kingston-upon-Hull, for over a year. "We wanted to nominate Peter, along with everyone else involved in the River Rats team, because they have all contributed to making Harry feel more confident about who he is and his condition," says dad Don. Find out more.
Kirsteen Henegan, local mum and youth group leader
Local mum Kirsteen Henegan has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Lynne Huckle, whose nine-year-old son Dean has Asperger syndrome. Kirsteen, who has two children with autism herself, runs The National Autistic Society's Aberdeen Youth Group for children with autism and other learning difficulties. Dean has been attending the group for the past year. "The youth group has given him a lifeline and one of the things that gets him through the school week is knowing he has the club to go to at the weekend," says Lynne. Find out more.
Dr Jagan John, GP
Dr Jagan John, who is a local GP from the King Edward's Medical Group in Barking, London, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by the Hurley family. Dr John helped in the diagnosis of Mr and Mrs Hurley's two sons, ten-year-old Connor who has Asperger syndrome and six-year-old Ryan who has autism. "I am very grateful and shocked to receive this award for doing my job," says Dr John humbly. Find out more.
Sharon Rees, health visitor
Sharon Rees, who is a health visitor, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by the parents of four-year-old Caoin Jenkins from Twyn in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Sharon has been supporting the Jenkins family since they first found out that Caoin may have autism. "Caoin's a wonderful little boy and I really enjoy my visits with him," says Sharon. Find out more.
Carol Stocker, local fitness coordinator
Carol Stocker, who is a local fitness coordinator at the Ice Gym in Northfield in Birmingham, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by brothers Miles and Curtis Walker, who have autism. Carol has helped the boys to live healthier and more active lives. "They both feel so grateful for everything she has done and continues to do each week," says the boys' mother Jacqueline. Find out more.
Hannah Frost, local family support worker
Hannah Frost, who is a local family support worker for Warwickshire County Council, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Julie Thomas, whose five-year-old son, Jack, is on the autism spectrum. "Hannah has been a godsend for Jack and for myself," Julie says. "She has helped us through some very difficult times." Find out more.
Haley Yates, Alton Towers employee
Haley Yates, who works at Alton Towers Resort, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Zoe Clark. Zoe, whose eight-year-old son Aaron has autism and severe learning disabilities, decided to nominate Haley after a recent family trip to the theme park when Haley went out of her way to cheer Aaron up. Find out more.
Victoria Radmore, development officer
Victoria Radmore, who is a development officer at Disability Sport Wales in Neath Port Talbot, has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Rhiannon Thomas. Rhiannon's son, Lloyd, who has Asperger syndrome, has been coached by Vicky for the last eight years. Find out more.
Westmorland School, Chorley
Westmorland primary school in Chorley has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Sally and Neil Tomlinson, whose eight-year-old son Max attends the school. Westmorland caters for boys and girls with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and associated learning needs. Max, who has autism, has been attending the school for just over a year. His parents say he is now much happier and enjoys school. Find out more.
Jaymes Shoreman, best friend
Nine-year-old Jaymes Shoreman has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by his best friend's mum, Kirstie Esson. Kirstie's son, Jack, has high functioning autism and dyspraxia. Jaymes "has made such a difference to Jack's life and consequently to all of our family's," Kirstie says. "He really is an absolute star." Find out more.
Old Barn Cottages East Anglia, day service
Old Barn Cottages in East Anglia has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Ruth Gatward, whose 13-year-old son Benjamin attends the centre every fortnight. Benjamin has Asperger syndrome, dyspraxia and also suffers with anxiety. Old Barns Cottages is a day service provided by The National Autistic Society for children and adults with autism. Benjamin has been going to the centre for the last year. His mum says it has "completely turned his life around." Find out more.
June Golding, nursery nurse
Nursery nurse June Golding has been nominated as a Happiness Hero by Michelle Bavage, whose son Adam has autism and ADHD. Adam attended Dalmain nursery in Forest Hill, where June works. "Ever since Adam started at nursery, June has gone out of her way to help him," Michelle says. "June recognised that Adam had problems before he even had a diagnosis and she took the time to really try and understand him and what he needed." Find out more.
Keith Duffy, singer/actor
Singer/actor Keith Duffy has been nominated as our first Happiness Hero. He was nominated by Louise, who was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 15. She loves listening to Boyzone ...loudly! "I got to meet Keith recently and it was so inspiring", Louise says. "What he has done to educate people about autism and the millions of pounds he has raised has changed my life and the lives of many others." Find out more.