From Vision to Reality – and What Comes Next
Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society
15/05/2026
Caroline Stevens is Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society. In this blog, she reflects on three years of the Vision to Reality strategy - what's been achieved, the challenges that remain, and what the new 2026-2030 strategy means for autistic people and their families across the UK.
It's been three years since we launched our Vision to Reality strategy, a bold commitment to turn our Moonshot Vision into tangible, meaningful change for autistic people and their families.
I am so proud of what we've achieved so far.
But the truth is, we are not where we need to be yet.
Across the UK, autistic people continue to face unacceptable barriers to diagnosis, support and opportunity:
- In December 2025, more than 254,000 people were waiting for an autism assessment – most for longer than three months.
- Over 2,000 autistic people and people with a learning disability remain in mental health hospitals, often far from home.
- With an employment rate of just 29%, far too many autistic people are still being locked out of opportunities to thrive.
These figures horrify me. They represent lives paused, potential unrealised and families left navigating systems that don't work for them.
At the same time, the world around us has shifted significantly.
We are seeing more and more damaging misinformation, such as 'overdiagnosis' and the spread of false claims about causes and cures, all of which make the world seem an incredibly hostile place for autistic people right now.
There is also the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, fundamentally changing how people access information, make decisions and engage with the world.
This is the context in which we now launch our next phase: our 2026–2030 strategy.
A strategy shaped by listening
I am proud of the work done in reviewing our strategy and want to say a huge thanks to the over 700 people who contributed to it, including staff, supporters and the public.
What we heard was both reassuring and challenging.
We are an organisation that stands firmly on the side of autistic people and their families. That trust matters, and we are incredibly proud of it.
But the challenges people told us about remain starkly consistent:
- accessing timely diagnosis
- navigating mental health challenges
- securing and sustaining employment
- accessing appropriate education
- tackling negative public attitudes.
Increasingly, people are feeling the real-world impact of misinformation, not just online, but in their daily lives.
This growing issue became a focal point of our charity's national influence and Campaigns team. In 2025, amid a surge of harmful comments from one of the highest offices in the world, we launched our Truth. It Matters. campaign. This campaign reached millions of people and placed accurate, evidence-based information firmly into public conversations about autism. But it's clear this work must go further.
What changes now
Our new strategy outlines that we will take a stronger, more visible role in challenging misinformation, advocating clearly, confidently and consistently for autistic people.
We will continue to evolve our services so they sit confidently within broader conversations about neurodivergence, while remaining unapologetically autism-focused.
Our three beliefs are:
- Transform society by building understanding, acceptance and respect for all autistic people
- Influence and collaborate to improve standards and adjustments
- Support autistic people and their families to live fulfilled lives on their own terms.
This shift reflects what we are hearing and what the current moment demands.
Turning ambition into action
Beneath these beliefs sit 12 ambitions, spanning every aspect of autistic people's lives, from healthcare and education to employment, housing and justice.
This is ambitious work. But it has to be.
Because autistic people deserve more than incremental change, they deserve a society that works for them.
And we are already seeing the impact of showing up differently.
Last year's It's How You Show Up campaign, featuring Penny and her family, resonated deeply with communities across the UK, reminding us of the power of authentic storytelling. We have exciting projects and high-profile partnerships in the year ahead that will help us reach and engage even more people.
Across the UK's nations, momentum is building:
- In Scotland, we are continuing to fight for autistic rights, calling for the introduction of the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill (LDAN Bill) to Parliament.
- In England, we are driving forward the Get SEND Right campaign to ensure the Government's SEND reforms deliver for families and young learners.
- In Northern Ireland, our services are expanding, including new adult provision and support for families whose voices have too often gone unheard.
- In Wales, more peer support groups have been established, with the aim of supporting autistic adults to form and run their own social groups.
These are not isolated efforts. They are part of a collective movement towards lasting change led by our passionate staff and volunteers.
A shared commitment
None of this happens in isolation.
All of our supporters, from individual fundraisers to corporate partners, are the driving force behind everything we do. Their time, energy and commitment help make this strategy possible and strengthen our resolve every day.
As we look to 2026 and beyond, our focus is clear: to be more targeted, more responsive and more impactful than ever before.
Because this is not just our charity delivering on strategic goals, it's about building a society where autistic people are understood, supported and empowered to live life on their own terms.
For every child, adult, parent and caregiver, we will continue fighting until this vision becomes reality.