An extraordinary 60 years... let's make the next 60 count!
It's 60 years since a group of parents of autistic children founded our charity to fight for autistic people's rights. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey. We've come a long way but there is still so much to do.
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Our story begins...
In 1962, a group of parents with autistic children set up what would go on to become the National Autistic Society. They begin our fight for autistic people's rights. At the time, there was no provision for autistic children, who were often diagnosed with childhood schizophrenia and sent to institutions.
1965
John Lennon donates to our first school
In 1965, our founding group of parents ask Montessori trainee teacher, Sybil Elgar, to set up a school for their children in West London. It is the world's first school specifically for autistic children. John Lennon comes to visit and writes a cheque for £1,000 to help. We now have four schools for autistic children and young people across the UK.
1967
First issue of Communication magazine sent out
The group of parents receive hundreds of phone calls and letters from worried parents of autistic children. To help provide answers, guidance and advice, they start Communication magazine. It is now called Your Autism and is read by 22,000 people. Full of articles about autistic people and their families, it won the Charity Magazine of the Year award in 2014.
"They said our children were ineducable."
1970s
The man with two wristwatches
In the 1970s, early founder, Dr Lorna Wing, and her colleague, Dr Judith Gould, undertake a study in Camberwell, South London to establish the number of autistic people in the area. They meet a young man who felt he needed to wear one wristwatch for Greenwich Mean Time and one for British Summer Time. Meeting this young man with his fascination for time and need for certainty helps the two women realise there were far more autistic people than previously recognised.
1974
UK's first residential service for autistic adults
Sybil Elgar and parents of children at the school open the UK’s first residential service for autistic adults, in Somerset, helping them to feel more independent and part of society. This was a time when many autistic adults were often locked away in institutions.
1979
Lorna Wing revolutionises understanding about autism
Dr Lorna Wing develops the term ‘the autistic spectrum’. Her and Dr Judith Gould’s work leads to figures on the prevalence of autism being revised. This has a huge impact on the number of people being diagnosed and having access to support in the coming decades, not only in the UK but around the world.
"Lorna Wing was one of the two or three most important people in the history of autism."
1980s
We become the UK's go-to place for autism information
Throughout the 1980s, the National Autistic Society is one of the few sources of information on autism for autistic people and their families as well as professionals in the UK. We also begin to receive many enquiries from overseas.
"The National Autistic Society was one of the few sources of autism information."
1991
The UK’s first diagnosis centre
In 1991, Dr Lorna Wing opens the Centre for Social and Communication Disorders at Elliot House in Bromley, London. This was the first all-age diagnostic clinic in the country which specialised in autism. Now called the Lorna Wing Centre, it is a world leader in best diagnostic practice.
1992
Autism Accreditation
In 1992, we set up our Autism Accreditation scheme, which is the UK’s only autism-specific quality assurance programme. It is awarded for best autism practice. To date, we have awarded it to over 2,500 organisations and services who provide support to autistic people. These include mainstream and specialist schools, colleges, universities, social care settings (residential, supported living day centres, outreach services), prisons, probation services, GPs, dentists and hospitals.
1994
National Autistic Society in Scotland
Our charity opens its Glasgow office to help the 56,000 autistic people and their families in Scotland.
1995
National Autistic Society in Wales
Our charity opens its office in Cardiff to help the 30,000 autistic people and their families in Wales.
1997
We launch our EarlyBird programme for families of young autistic children
The programme helps the child and family understand their autism, as well as helping to build their confidence, improve communication and reduce anxiety. Programmes are now available for parents of older children and teenagers.
"The EarlyBird programme helped me understand my daughter better."
2005
National Autistic Society in Northern Ireland
Our charity opens its office in Belfast to help the 18,000 autistic people and their families in Northern Ireland.
2007
Training over 300,000 education professionals
In 2007, we set up the Autism Education Trust with Ambitious about Autism and supported by the Department for Education. It has trained 338,555 education professionals to date and demand for its professional development programme and free autism education resources is growing.
2009
The Autism Act, England
In 2009, thanks to a campaign led by the National Autistic Society and supported by other organisations, the Autism Act is introduced by MP Dame Cheryl Gillan and Baroness Pitkeathley. The Act says that there has to be a government strategy for improving services for autistic adults, underpinned by legally binding guidance to councils in England. Similar strategies have been enacted in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"It's so important that as many people as possible learn about autism."
2011
The Autism Act, Northern Ireland
After years of campaigning , we help introduce the Autism Act, Northern Ireland which legally binds all Northern Ireland government departments to plan, cooperate and implement an agreed strategy and services for autistic individuals.
2015
We reach 100 branches
By 2015, we have 100 branches across the UK. This means 75% of autistic adults and children, as well as their families, are within 20 miles of a place to meet people in similar situations. Our branches are led by volunteers and have continued to grow. We now have 116 branches, allowing even more autistic people and their families to connect.
2015
National Autistic Society Cullum Centres in mainstream schools
With the help of Peter Cullum we set up the National Autistic Society’s Cullum Centres to help students on the autism spectrum get the support they need to thrive in a mainstream school setting. There are now five NAS Cullum Centres open with ambitious plans to grow further.
2016
We launch our Too Much Information campaign
2016 is a big year for us! We launch our Too Much Information campaign to help increase public understanding of autism. 56 million people watch our Can you make it to the end? film about a young autistic boy’s sensory overload in a shopping centre. Our next films feature a man attending a job interview, a young girl facing challenges at school, and a young woman struggling with public transport.
2017
Autism-friendly shopping
In 2017, we launch our Autism Hour campaign, encouraging businesses to provide autism-friendly shopping hours. In 2019, over 14,000 businesses and services take part by making adjustments - such as dimming the lights or lowering the noise levels, as well as providing information for staff on the challenges autistic customers face.
2018
The Spectrum magazine turns 25
In 2018, the Spectrum magazine celebrates its 25th birthday. The Spectrum was founded by a group of autistic people at the Maudsley hospital. The magazine is a place for autistic prose, poetry and art, providing a unique window into the autistic creative mind - from theories on autism and aliens, to animal artwork, and everyday reflections of life on the spectrum.
2019
Autism at Work Programme
In association with the Bloomfield Trust, we set up our Autism at Work Programme to help increase the number of autistic people in sustainable paid employment. We support employers in finding autistic candidates and being autism friendly employers and offer coaching to applicants and the successful candidates.
"We want everyone to be able to reach their potential and enjoy the quality of life that should be available to them."
2020
4.5 million visits a year to our website
In 2020, we launch our new website, dedicated to providing clear, simple advice and guidance for autistic people and their families. Improving on our previous website, which saw millions of visits a year, our new website receives 4.5 million visitors in its first year.
Autism Inpatient Mental Health Casework Service
With funding from NHS England and Improvement, we set up this service to offer advice and support to autistic people and the families of autistic people in England who have been detained in a mental health hospital, or are at imminent risk of detention or re-detention.
2021
The new national autism strategy for England
The new national autism strategy for England is published, committing to £73m investment in the first year. The strategy reflects most of the issues we raised in our Not Enough campaign and, importantly, includes children for the first time.
Mental health Campaigning win
We persuade the Government to change the definition of 'mental disorder' in the Mental Health Act so it no longer includes autism.
2022 - Our 60th anniversary
23 January 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the National Autistic Society.
It has been an extraordinary 60 years, with so much progress having been made for and by autistic people. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to and supported our work. You are our heroes.
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