What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. For further information please see What is autism? and What is Asperger syndrome?

The family with a child with autism

Although autism is often not recognised in children until they are two or three years old (and sometimes not until they reach their teens) many parents may already be aware that something is wrong with their child's development. The diagnosis that their child has autism may not therefore come as a complete shock but it will certainly be distressing news for the whole family. Find out more about the impact of autism on families.

Therapies and interventions

There is, at present, no known cure for conditions on the autism spectrum (including Asperger syndrome). As the nature of autism is so complex, many interventions have been developed over the years and many competing claims made for their effectiveness. Few interventions have been independently or scientifically evaluated.

The outcome of any approach depends on the needs of the individual, which vary greatly, and the appropriate application of the intervention. An intervention that may help one individual may not be effective for another and some may be highly specific to individual medical conditions. It is therefore not appropriate for the NAS to recommend any one particular practice or therapy. You can read information on a range of therapies and interventions on our website. You can also find out about research into therapies and interventions on the Research Autism website.

Services for people with autism

The range of services for children with autism is extremely varied but on the whole is provided through local statutory agencies, such as social services departments1, education authorities and health authorities. Voluntary organisations also provide a number of services for children with disabilities (eg the NAS, Mencap2, Contact-a-Family, etc).

You can also search the NAS Autism Services Directory at www.autism.org.uk/directory. The directory is a searchable database of thousands of autism services across the UK. Some of the services available are listed below.

Health services

Health professionals who may be involved with children with autism include: paediatricians (doctors who specialise in child health and development), child health clinic professionals, health visitors, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, child psychologists and psychiatrists. 

Autism may be first recognised by any of these health professionals or by nursery staff, teachers and so on. A diagnosis of autism is, however, usually conducted at a clinic, hospital or specialist centre and involves a lengthy assessment of a child (including intelligence and language tests) and a detailed history of his or her development.

See information for health professionals.

Education services

Pre-school provision
Facilities may include toy libraries, playgroups, opportunity groups, early years centres, nurseries, playschemes, and playschemes.

School provision
If a child has been recognised as having special educational needs3, their school or local education authority has a responsibility to identify, assess and provide for those needs. This may involve a statutory assessment and the production of a statement of special educational needs4. Children with autism will be placed in a variety of different types of schools. These will include special schools for children with autism, schools for children with learning disabilities and mainstream schools. Some schools will offer weekly or termly boarding facilities: others provide for children on a daily basis only.

For information on education please ask us to send you our information sheets, or visit www.autism.org.uk/education

You can read information for student teachers and education researchers here: www.autism.org.uk/edprofs and www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk (specific to England).

Post-school provision
There are several possibilities for further education, training and employment for young people after school. An increasing number of further education colleges for example, cater for students with a wide range of abilities. Many will provide extra support for young people with special educational needs.

Students with disabilities are able to be educated up to the age of 19 (18 in Scotland). Vocational training and planned work experience for school and college leavers may be available - including young people with disabilities.

For information about transition you can ask for our transition information sheet or visit www.autism.org.uk/transition.

Adult services

There is a range of support services for adults on the autism spectrum:

Other services

Benefits
Children and adults with autism and their parents and carers may be entitled to several different social security benefits including Disability Living Allowance, Carers' Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. We produce a range of information about benefits.

Respite care
A number of schemes operate at a local level which give parents and carers of children with disabilities the opportunity for a short break, by offering short-term care for children. Local social services departments will have details of short-term care facilities in your area. The Autism Services Directory also provides details of respite services.

Holiday schemes
Local authorities and/or local voluntary organisations often arrange holiday schemes for children with special needs. You can also read information about holidays on our website.

Legislation

People with autism are subject to the same laws as all other citizens. There are also a number of provisions relating specifically to people with disabilities - including learning disability.

The Policy and Campaigns Team works to promote the rights of people with autism in Parliament and Government. If you have questions or comments regarding the policy and parliamentary work of the NAS or wish to become involved with NAS campaigns, please contact policycampaigns@nas.org.uk or call 020 7903 558/557 in England, 0141 285 7115 in Scotland, or 02920 343 712 in Wales.

Some Acts of Parliament which may be particularly relevant to people with autism include:

  • Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (applies to all those 16+)
  • Autism Act 2009 (c. 15)
  • Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14)
  • Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 (c. 16)
  • Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36)
  • Children Act 1989 (c. 41)
  • Children and Young Persons Act 2008
  • Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
  • Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance Act 1991 (c. 21)
  • Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986
  • Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
  • Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009
  • Education Act 2002 c.32
  • Education and Inspections Act 2006
  • Education and Skills Act 2008
  • Equality Act 2010 (c. 15)
  • Health and Social Care Act 2001 c.15
  • Health and Social Care Act 2008
  • Mental Capacity Act 2005 c.9
  • Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
  • Mental Health Act 2007
  • National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19)
  • Special Educational Needs (Information) Act 2008
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 c.10
  • Welfare Reform Act 2007


You can see the full text of all Public General Acts from 1988 onwards at www.legislation.gov.uk

In Scotland, guidelines instruct local authorities to base eligibility for services on an individual's presenting needs, rather than their diagnosis5.   

Services provided by the NAS

The NAS is a registered charity and was set up by a group of parents in 1962. The NAS provides a range of services for people with autism and their parents or carers. These include a national telephone helpline; a national diagnostic and assessment service; a volunteering network of befrienders; a supported employment scheme; a network of approximately 85 local NAS branches; a range of literature on autism, including our membership magazine, 'Communication'; and an Information Centre with library (please call 0845 070 4004 to make an appointment if you would like to visit).

The NAS also owns and manages six special schools for children with autism and eighteen day and residential services for adults. Local societies and groups also run services. There are also branches and Regional Teams operating throughout the UK.
 
While local authorities cover the running costs of our schools and centres, the NAS has to rely on funds from voluntary sources to cover the costs of building new establishments, extending existing ones and providing other services for people with autism and their families.

Resources for students

The NAS offers a range of services and resources for students.


If you would prefer an information professional to search any of these databases for you, please contact the Information Centre.

1 'Social work departments' in Scotland.

2 In Scotland, the organisation Enable does similar work to Mencap in England and Wales.

3 'Additional support needs' in Scotland.

4 In Scotland Additional Support for Learning provides a Personal Learning Plan, or a Co-ordinated Support Plan for those with more complex support.

5 Scottish Executive (2000). The same as you? A review of services for people with learning disabilities. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.