Autism and Autistic Spectrum Disorders

UK sources of information and / or support

 National Autistic Society

Specific information for individuals with an autistic spectrum disorder (including Asperger's syndrome), family members and professionals.

 Scottish Society for Autism

The leading provider of services for autism in Scotland, delivering a comprehensive range of expertise in care, support and education for people with autism, their families and carers.

 Autism Spectrum Disorders for Parents and Carers

A patient guide to complement the SIGN national guideline for health professionals.

 Autism Spectrum Disorders for Young People

A patient guide to complement the SIGN national guideline for health professionals

 MIND

MIND, one of Britain's leading mental health charities provides information on autism.

 Mental Health Foundation

Provide good information about autism.

 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Provide a range of information leaflets about various learning disabilities, including autism.

 Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

IPSEA offers free and independent advice on Local Education Authorities' legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs. These include children with physical disabilities, sensory impairment, emotional and behavioural difficulties, general and specific learning difficulties (including those arising from specific conditions such as Down's syndrome, autism and dyslexia).

 London Early Autism Project

A programme and clinic for the treatment of autistic children based on the work of Dr Ivar Lovaas. The organisation currently provides home-based programmes to pre-school children throughout the United Kingdom.

 OAASIS (Office for Advice, Assistance, Support and Information on Special needs)

Offers an information service to parents and professionals on all issues connected with special needs education for a range of conditions, including autism. Part of The Hesley Group which includes independent schools and colleges for children with conditions in the autistic spectrum and related disorders.

 PEACH (Parents for Early Intervention in Autism in Children)

As a charity, PEACH's goals are to provide support and information for parents of children with autism or other developmental delays in a variety of ways including publications, meetings and advice.

 Autism Networks

Autism Networks (AN), is a non-profit making organisation based in Crewe, Cheshire. It seeks to provide support, care, information and recreational activities for people who suffer from, have experience of (in particular parents and carers), or an interest in Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including (Asperger's syndrome).

 Treehouse

TreeHouse is a national charity for autism education. TreeHouse was founded in 1997 by parents of children with autism and campaigns for better autism education nationally and run a school for children and young people with autism.

 Services for adults with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC): good practice advice for primary care trust and local authority commissioners

This good practice advice from the Department of Health is for PCT and local authority commissioners. However, it is of interest to all.

 Autism London

A registered charity, originally formed in 1984 by parents concerned about the lack of provision for people with autism and Asperger's syndrome. Provides impartial support, advice and information to individuals, their families and carers, and professionals affected by autism and Asperger's syndrome living in Greater London.

 Hoffmann Foundation

A registered charity, based in North London, which provides residential and day care services for adults with autism, and counselling services for adults with Asperger's syndrome

 Brookdale Care

Provides residential care for individuals with autistic spectrum disorders, autism and Asperger's
syndrome. Homes are in North London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

 University Students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

Provides support to students with Asperger's syndrome.

 Signalong Group

Charity providing publications, research, training and advice in sign-supported communication.

 Autism Independent UK

The Society exists to bring an increased awareness of autism to the notice of all, together with well established and newly developed approaches in the diagnosis, assessment, education and treatment.

 International Autistic Research Organisation

They encourage and raise funds for research, so that one day we will be able to avoid Autism occurring and be able to treat the condition successfully.

 DANDA

DANDA - Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association - is for people with conditions such as Dyspraxia, ADHD, and Asperger's syndrome. DANDA's mission statement is: "To see that adults with developmental neuro-diversity reach their full potential and play a full role in society"

  Life on the Autism Spectrum

Healthtalkonline, is an award-winning charity website, which lets you share in other people's experiences of health and illness. The information is based on qualitative research into patient experiences led by experts at the University of Oxford.

  Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum

Healthtalkonline, is an award-winning charity website, which lets you share in other people's experiences of health and illness. The information is based on qualitative research into patient experiences led by experts at the University of Oxford.

 National Light and Sound Therapy Centre

The Centre offers specialised treatment for a variety of disabilities including autism, learning disabilities and behavioural problems.

 British Institute for Brain Injured Children

BIBIC's home-based therapy helps rehabilitate children variously diagnosed as having autism, autistic tendencies, brain damage, brain injury, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, Down's syndrome, dyslexia, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, learning difficulties, learning disability, microcephaly.

 Priory Education Services

Offers a unique combination of education, healthcare and support to young people aged between four and twenty five years with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The company operates six schools, colleges and a residential unit for adults dedicated to people with ASD. Rookery House has recently opened to continue the care and support for young people aged 18-25 with Asperger's syndrome (AS) and related disorders. Development courses are tailored to meet resident's individual needs, from preparation and access to employment strategies, independent living skills, to developing ways to cope with anxieties, including relevant therapies.

 Building Blocks ABA Consultancy

Building Blocks provides intensive behavioural treatment programmes for young children with autism. Site includes information about autism and ABA programmes.

 Semantic Pragmatic Disorder Parents Page

For UK families, resources and information concerning semantic-pragmatic disorder - a language/communication disorder that is commonly found in children on the Autistic Spectrum.

 Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

From the 'Behind the Medical Headlines' website developed to provide authoritative and independent expert commentaries on topical medical matters reported in the international media. Produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

 Autistic spectrum disorder

Information from NHS Choices - the government's patient information portal.

 Autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs)

Information from BUPA.

Further sources / more detailed information

Some non-UK sites

The following list popular non-UK health information sites with content aimed at the general public. They are mainly from the US. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included but these large sites are comprehensive.

• Non-UK disease / illness sites
• Non-UK self-help / support group sites

More detailed medical information

The following list online sources of more detailed medical information, mainly from the UK. These sites are mainly aimed at health professionals, but are of interest to all. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included, but information about most medical topics can usually be found.

• PatientPlus - hundreds of medical reference articles provided by Patient UK.
• Evidence Based Medicine - such as from Clinical Evidence, The Cochrane Library, etc.
• Database of UK Clinical Guidelines - from NICE, SIGN, Clinical Knowledge Summaries, etc.
• Medline - abstracts available from thousands of journals.
• Sites listing free online medical textbooks and journals.
• Sites listing free medical images - pictures, atlases, anatomy, skin diseases, etc.