Autism
The following organisations can provide information and support for children, adults and their families living with autism.
- Autism East Midlands
- National Autistic Society
- Ambitious About Autism
- Mansfield and District Autism Spectrum Support Group
- Spectrum WASP
Autism East Midlands is a registered charity providing information and support for young people, adults and their families in the East Midlands who are living with autism.
Their website provides all sorts of useful information and resources, including:
- An information sheet on autism in women and girls - in the past, tools to diagnose autism have focussed on males, which meant that autism was sometimes missed or mis-diagnosed in women and girls. This information sheet gives guidance on how autism can present in women and girls.
- Training sessions and online workshops around autism and mental health.
- An autism passport plus information on how to fill it in - this helps to make sure that if you go into hospital, for example, that people understand what might trigger or be difficult for you.
To access this information and resources please click HERE.
Please click HERE to learn more about the adult services they offer and click HERE to learn more about services for children. In Kirkby-in-Ashfield they run a family support hub and a teen hub in Mansfield Woodhouse. These sessions run on a monthly basis. For more information about these and other services in Nottinghamshire please click HERE to go to their website.
National Autistic SocietyThe National Autistic Society is a registered charity providing help, advice and support for those with autism and their families. They have a searchable directory to help you to find UK-wide or local organisations and services that are specifically for, or have adapted their services, to meet the needs of autistic people and/or their families. Click HERE to visit the advice and guidance section of their website.
Ambitious About AutismAmbitious About Autism is a national charity supporting children and young people with autism. Their website has lots of useful information on autism including:
- Information about autism - information on what to do if you think your child is autistic, how to talk about autism and the right from the start parent toolkit.
- Early years - information on how assessment and diagnosis works and education in the early years.
- Education - lots of information on things like choosing an education path, school transport, support at school, exclusions, bullying and support during school and college holidays.
- Preparing for adulthood - information on work experience and employment, making friends and relationships and intimacy.
- Health and wellbeing - resources and information to support mental health and wellbeing.
As well as information on each of these areas of interest, the website provides short video clips including a quality of life at home toolkit.
Mansfield and District Autism Spectrum Support Group
Mansfield & District Autism Spectrum Support Group is for parents/carers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). They meet every 2nd month on the first Monday of the month at Harwood Court from 7pm-9pm. Group members can access a library of books/leaflets on ASDs, swimming sessions, trips, and school holiday activities. All details are posted on their Facebook page at Mansfield Autism Support Group.
Spectrum WASP (We Are Special People)
Spectrum WASP is a local charity providing support for children and young people on the autistic spectrum with disabilities, special and additional needs. They work in Rainworth, Blidworth, Mansfield and the surrounding areas. Please note that there is currently a waiting list for this service. They provide a wide range of activities, including:
- Football
- Table Tennis
- Go-Karting
- Basketball
- Quad Biking
- Gymnastics
- Games
- Music
- Pool
- Swimming
- Cinema trips and family days out
They also run a weekly teen club for young people aged 11-18. To find out more please click HERE to go to their website.
