Useful Contacts

Please find below some links to local and national organisations and charities you may find interesting and useful.

(Please note: the NAS does not endorse any of the non-NAS services or individuals we provide a platform for in emails or on any of our social media platforms. Some services may require payment.)

National Autistic Society help: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and- support

•The Transition Support Helpline provides advice and support to young autistic people and their families on making the transition from school, further or higher education to adult life. https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and- support/transition-support-service

•Parent to Parent is a confidential telephone service providing emotional support to parents and carers of autistic adults or children. The service is provided by trained parent volunteers who are all parents of an autistic adult or child. https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/parent-to-parent

•If you cannot find the support you are looking for on the website please contact The Autism Helpline enquiry service which provides impartial, confidential information and advice for autistic people, their families, friends, and carers.

➢Telephone: 0808 800 4104 – 10am-3pm https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we- do/contact-us/online-enquiry-form

•My Health Passport – a helpful booklet to complete to take to all hospital visits for staff to be aware of autism or other related issues: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice- and-guidance/topics/physical-health/my-health-passport Other local and national charities and organisations (in alphabetical order): • Add-vance: Supporting families living with autism and ADHD - www.add-vance.org

• Additude: Free online magazine (American) for children and adults living with ADHD - www.additudemag.com

• Angels Support Group: for parents/carers of children on the and/or with ADHD - angelssupportgroup.org.uk

• Autism Alliance: Support and advice for autistic people and their families - www.autism- alliance.org.uk

• Autism Anglia: Advice, training and Autism Alert Cards and Autism Passports available to purchase - www.autism-anglia.org.uk

• Autism Eye: Free online magazine for autistic people, parents and professionals - www.autismeye.com

• Carers in Herts: Supporting Carers of people with various health issues or disabilities - www.carersinherts.org.uk

• DSPL: Developing Special Provision Locally (Welwyn Hatfield) - www.dspl5.co.uk (use link to find your area in DSPLs 1-9)

• Families in Focus: Free parenting courses for a wide range of SEND issues - www.familiesinfocus.co.uk

• Futurelearn: Free online courses - including Introduction to Autism course - www.futurelearn.com

• Guideposts: Support and activities for families with learning disabilities and mental health issues - guideposts.org.uk/hertfordshire-services

• Mermaids: Support for gender-diverse children and their families - www.mermaidsuk.org.uk

• Noah’s Room: Charity supporting autistic children & families - www.noahsroomcharity.wixsite.com

• The OLLIE Foundation (One Life Lost Is Enough): Charity for suicide prevention in autistic people - www.theolliefoundation.org.uk

• Open University: Free online courses including Understanding Autism course - www.open.edu/openlearn

• PALMS: Positive behaviour, Autism, Learning disability & Mental health Service – Herts Community Trust run service supporting 0-18 year olds - www.hct.nhs.uk

• Potential Kids: Support and activities for neurodiverse children - www.potentialkids.org

• POhWER: Advocacy and support for individuals and families living with disabilities - www.pohwer.net

• Space: Supporting families in with autism and ADHD related conditions - www.space.herts.org.uk • SWAN: Scottish Women Autism Network – specifically female autism information and support – www.swanscotland.org.uk Mental Health specific support

• Healthy Young Minds in Herts: Mental health support for young people – www.healthyyoungmindsinherts.org.uk

• Mind in mid-Herts: www.mindinmidherts.org.uk

• National Autistic Society mental health information: www.autism.org.uk/advice-and- guidance/topics/mental-health

• PALMS: Positive behaviour, Autism, Learning disability & Mental health Service – Herts Community Trust run service supporting 0-18 year olds - www.hct.nhs.uk

• Rethink Mental Illness: www.rethink.org.uk

• SANE: www.sane.org.uk Email: [email protected],