
Avon branch
Our branch provides support, information and advice to autistic adults (including those who have Asperger syndrome) and their parents/carers in the Avon area. Professionals are welcome to contact us too. As a volunteer-led branch we will do all we can to make sure our website contains accurate information. However, if you do spot anything wrong with the information on our website then please let us know by dropping us an email.
Email usWelcome!
Welcome to our new website. While we hope that the information we provide on here is up-to-date, we also welcome suggestions for any changes or additions. To send these to us, please email avon.branch@nas.org.uk
Upcoming events
Job fairs
Step and Stone Partnership
We have recently welcomed Step and Stone Bakery onto our list of support providers. We are working with Step and Stone to offer individuals with the opportunity to develop essential employability skills.
Their Bristol-based bakery, Step and Stone, makes handmade lavosh flatbreads with a social purpose. They work with young people with learning disabilities, helping to develop their skills and confidence so they can eventually move into employment. They are a community interest company, so all their profits are ploughed straight back into the bakery.
We are keen to work with more delivery partners. If you run or work for an organisation that aims to support individuals with learning difficulties or autism into paid employment please contact us via email: weworkforeveryone@bristol.gov.uk
Job opportunities
Diverse UK
Diverse UK has a job opportunity to manage their Calm Sensory Space at various festivals this year.
This is a sensory space that means that people who love music and festivals can attend them without feeling too overwhelmed as there is always a safe, calm space to go.
There are both paid and voluntary role opportunities if you would like to gain some experience. If you are interested please visit the Job Opportunities page.
Amey, Bristol - Cleaning Operatives
Amey is one of the top five support service suppliers in the UK, employing 14,000 people. The services provided include maintaining the UK's road and rail infrastructure, keeping schools clean and safe and managing the UK's defence and justice estates delivering utilities services.
Amey are looking for cleaning operatives to hire on a permanent basis. You can apply to this role through the Autism at Work Programme.
To discuss further please contact the Enterprise and Employment Team at the NAS by emailing: enterprise.team@nas.org.uk. If you would like to apply directly please send your CV and a cover letter in the email.
National Autistic Society's Autism at Work Programme
The National Autistic Society's Autism at Work Programme, in association with the Bloomfield Trust, aims to increase the number of Autistic people in sustainable, paid employment by making employers aware of autistic talent and the benefits of a truly neurodiverse workforce.
For more information about the programme and to see how it can help please visit the NAS website.
Join our mailing list
People on our mailing list are sent lots of useful information, including:
- Details of branch activities
- Information on events of interest
- Details of consultations for proposed changes in services
- Information on research and surveys
Our mailings are sent electronically to people on our mailing list. To join our mailing list, click the link below and email us your request to join.

News
Welcome to The National Autistic Society's new Avon Branch Officer/Chair!!
NAS Avon are delighted to welcome Rosie Quick to the team as our new Branch Officer/Chair. Rosie joins us with a wealth of personal and professional experience and we are confident she is going to be an amazing asset. Welcome to the team Rosie!
New online branches
With regular meet-ups online, our charity's online branches are a social space for autistic people to reach out and seek peer support for a shared interest, identity, or experience. They're totally free to join, and may be a more accessible option to some than an in-person meet-up. All autistic people are welcome (under 16-year-olds must be supervised by an adult, and people that need more support must bring their support carer with them).
We currently have online branches for:
- Arts and crafts
- Book club
- Employment and the workplace
- LGBTQ+
- Running

BaNES Autism Partnership Board
Message for people who live/work in BaNES
BaNES Autism Partnership Board would like to offer further opportunities to hear views and engage. They would be grateful if people could give them their views on the questions listed below:
- What does having a good life mean to you?
- What is important to you to live a good life?
- What do you need more of to have a good life?
- What three things do you want to do that will make you happier in your life this year?
- What skills would you like to develop in the future?
- COVID 19 changed the way we deliver and receive support. Please tell us one thing that worked well and one thing that did not work well for you
Please email comments to: Andrew_du_Rose@bathnes.gov.uk

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University of York - Recruitment Advert
We are seeking autistic adults (with official diagnoses or self-identified) to complete a survey on accessing media. Participants need to be at least 18 years old and be based in the UK.
What is the study?
Audio-visual media (TV, film, streaming) are a major part of our daily lives. We all have different access needs and preferences for viewing this media. Little is currently known about the accessibility of this media for autistic people.
In this survey we are aiming to understand autistic peoples’ experiences of audio-visual media. We hope that this work will inform improvements in the technology and services currently offered.
The survey is completed online following the link below. The survey should take between 20 and 45 minutes to complete. Participants will be sent a £10 Amazon voucher after completing the survey as a thank you (this may take up to 48 hrs).
Who is running the study?
This study is a collaboration between researchers in media accessibility (York Audio Lab), autism (Sheffield Autism Research Lab) and media technologists (BBC R&D) working alongside a co-production panel of autistic adults. The work is funded by the Screen Industries Growth Network.
Who can take part?
We are seeking autistic adults (officially diagnosed or self-identified) aged over 18 years old who are based in the UK to take part in the study.
For more information and to take part in the survey please follow this link.
If you have any questions about taking part please contact: Dr Lauren Ward:
Lauren.ward@york.ac.uk
Hospital passports
The National Autistic Society and Mencap have hospital passports, which you may find helpful when visiting hospitals or attending other health appointments:
The Mencap link also provides access to the charity's Coronavirus Grab & Go Form, which it recommends that autistic people and/or people with a learning difficulty use alongside its hospital passport.
Hospital Passport for autistic people
A project at Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS) has helped develop an Autism Hospital Passport with the autism liaison service at Southmead. This was due to a lack of widely used passport across the region that was not aimed at people with learning disabilities. This development involved a lot of input from service users at BASS either through focus groups or individually.
They are now being used across hospitals in Bristol, North Somerset, South Glos, and Bath and North East Somerset (BANES). BASS have run workshops for clients to assist them to complete them and can assist people 1:1.
When completed, as well as giving people both hard copies and digital copies of their passport they also provide people laminated walled sized cards to show to a professional and prompt them to contact BASS for an electronic copy of the passport. They are currently being flagged by the computer systems at Southmead and the Royal United Hospital should someone with a passport present there too.
For details on BASS, go to their website

Face coverings
Not all autistic people can wear face coverings in public places. Follow the links below for more information from our charity on this topic.
Autism information talk
Our branch volunteers can deliver a one hour introductory talk on autism for those who would like to have some basic understanding. The talk is suitable for frontline staff such as shop workers or receptionists and could help them when they come into contact with an autistic person. To find out more, please email us.