The National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society Information sheet

History autism and their families/carers. Provide a comprehensive range of publications. Formed in 1962, The National Society for Autistic Children was established on the initiative of a group • Expand opportunities to use the expertise of of parents who were later joined by professionally members and staff of the Society, and other interested people. The Society changed its name in professionals for training purposes. Provide a 1982. training and consultancy programme. Promote accreditation for autism specific services. Establish international initiatives to promote and Aims develop the work of the Society. Encourage research into interventions by dedicating Membership and Branches: resources to support the aims of our associated charity, Research Autism. • Encourage all those involved with autism to become registered members of The National • Raise funds to support the Society's activities. Autistic Society and establish the Society as the Increase voluntary income; establish innovative key influencer in the field of autism. fundraising opportunities; establish a fundraising structure at national, regional and local levels; • Provide assistance to local groups and encourage develop a strategy for collaborative fundraising; them to become a Branch of The National develop income-generating activities. Autistic Society and provide support via a truly national representative network of Branches and Services and Support: Regional Forums. • Provide support, advice and information. Be the Partnerships: first point of contact. Assist those affected by autism and their families/carers to access • Strengthen partnerships and affiliation, appropriate local services and support, and nationally and internationally with local societies ensure they are aware of their rights and and other groups, statutory authorities, and other responsibilities under current legislation. voluntary and private organisations. Develop outreach initiatives.

Increasing Awareness and Communication: • Be a focus for diagnostic and assessment processes. Establish a network of accredited • Promote awareness and understanding of autism, diagnostic and assessment facilities. Raise and the work of The National Autistic Society. awareness of diagnostic and assessment Establish the NAS as a primary source of techniques and train professionals. Develop information. Spearhead national and quality standards for diagnosis and assessment international initiatives. Lobby Central and Local Government on the needs of people with

The National Autistic Society Information Centre produces fact sheets on a wide © The National Autistic Society 2007 variety of topics and can provide customised reference lists in response to individual Not to be reproduced without permission requests. The lists are extracted from Autism Data, our database which contains over 17,500 books and articles from the autism field. This service is particularly The National Autistic Society useful for those wanting to research a specific subject thoroughly. 393 City Road London EC1V 1NG The National Autistic Society is a Company limited by Guarantee T:+44 (0)20 7833 2299 E: [email protected] Registered in England No. 1205298 www.autism.org.uk Registered as a Charity. No. 269425 Helpline: 0845 070 4004 Information centre direct line: + 44 (0)20 7903 3599 and undertake research and evaluation  Runs a Volunteering Network of initiatives. Befrienders working with people with autism and their families. • Research and evaluate various forms of  Owns and manages schools offering day, therapeutic treatment and other forms of weekly, termly and fifty-two week intervention. Provide information on therapeutic placements. interventions. Provide access to effective therapeutic interventions. Promote  Runs residential and day services for adults. and provide training in effective therapeutic interventions.  Offers an accreditation scheme for autism specific education and care programmes. • Maintain the viability of existing NAS education, vocational and care services. Expand  Runs EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus training on the range of services. Establish models of programmes, and help! support good practice. Continue to develop a quality programmes for parents. audit and accreditation programme for all autism-specific services.  Organises social programmes for adolescents and adults with high- functioning autism spectrum disorders, such The NAS Mission Statement as Asperger syndrome. Social Programmes consist of Social Groups, Social Skills We champion the rights and interests of all people modules and User Representation Groups. with autism and aim to provide individuals with autism and their families with help, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon  Offers licensed training programmes for and which can make a positive difference to their professionals in diagnostic methods, lives. (DISCO), and for the delivery of the EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus programmes. Activities

 Runs an autism helpline for people with Europe autism, Asperger syndrome and related disorders and parents and carers, The NAS is a founder member of Autism Europe professionals and students. and maintains many international links with families and professionals.  Runs an Information Centre and library with a large collection of information on the Membership nature of autism and the type of services available to people with autism spectrum By joining The National Autistic Society as a disorders. member, you will help us provide vital support to people affected by ASD throughout the UK. The  Produces a range of literature on autism and more members we have, the greater our voice a magazine for members, 'Communication'. becomes in campaigning for the rights of people with autism and their families. Members receive  Offers a national diagnostic and assessment priority information on workshops and training in service. their area as well as Communication, the leading magazine devoted to autism spectrum disorders,  Organises a wide range of courses and four times a year. For more information about conferences for parents, carers and becoming a member of The National Autistic practitioners. Society, please call +44 (0)20 7903 3563 or email: [email protected].  Runs a Supported Employment Scheme, ‘Prospects’, for people with autism and Asperger syndrome. Donations

1 in 110 people is affected by an autism spectrum disorder. The NAS is determined to improve the

2 lives of people with autism and their families, by The National Autistic Society, Unit 9, The Ivories, providing specialist education through our six 6/8 Northampton Street, London, N1 2HY, UK; tel: schools and 17 adult centres; advice, support and +44 (0)20 7704 3800; fax: +44 (0)20 7704 3808 help through our Autism Helpline, invaluable support through our Befriending schemes, training The NAS in the South and support for parents and carers of newly The National Autistic Society, 2nd Floor, Church diagnosed people with autism through our House, Church Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7BD, EarlyBird scheme and help! programme. UK; tel: +44 (0)117 974 8400; fax: +44 (0)117 987 2576 The NAS is dependent on voluntary donations to continue to raise awareness of autism and provide many of our services that improve the lives of The NAS in Scotland people with ASD and their families. If you would The National Autistic Society, Central Chambers, like to make a donation, please make your cheque First Floor, 109 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 6LL, payable to The National Autistic Society and send UK; tel: +44 (0)141 221 8090; to the address below, or call 08702 334040 to make fax: +44 (0)141 221 8118; email: a donation using your credit card. [email protected]

The National Autistic Society, Fairways House, NAS Contact Offices Fairways Business Park, Castle Heather, Inverness, IV2 6AA; tel: +44 (0)1463 258802; fax: +44 Autism Helpline: 0845 070 4004 (0)1463 716003; email: [email protected] From overseas: +44 (0)20 7903 3555 Email: [email protected] The National Autistic Society, Suite 1, 30 Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen, AB11 5BS; tel: +44 (0)1224 Information Centre: 0845 070 4004 576821; fax: +44 (0)1224 576829; email: From overseas: +44 (0)20 7903 3599 [email protected] Email: [email protected] The NAS in Wales Publications Department: +44 (0)20 7903 3595 The National Autistic Society, Ground Floor, 6 & 7 Email: [email protected] Village Way, Greenmeadow Springs Business Park, Tongwynlais, Coryton, Cardiff, CF15 7NE, UK; tel: Press & PR: +44 (0)20 7903 3593 +44 (0)2920 629300; fax: +44 (0)2920 629317; Email: [email protected] email: [email protected]

(All based at 393 City Road, London, EC1V 1NG, The NAS in Northern Ireland UK) The National Autistic Society, 57A Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JL, UK; tel: +44 (0)2890 236235; fax: +44 (0)2890 262966; email: The NAS has a number of Regional Offices in the [email protected] UK

The NAS in North of England Autism Accreditation The National Autistic Society, Anglo House, The National Autistic Society, Unit 2, Pinkers Chapel Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4JN, Court, Briarlands Office Park, Gloucester Road, UK; tel: +44 (0)161 998 7860; fax: +44 (0)161 945 Rudgeway, Bristol, BS35 3QH, UK; tel: +44 2703 (0)1454 423780; fax: +44 (0)1454 423781; email: [email protected] The NAS in Central England The National Autistic Society, Castle Heights, 1st Diagnosis and Assessment Floor, 72 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham NG1 6BJ, The Centre for Social & Communication Disorders, UK; tel: +44 (0)115 911 3360; fax: +44 (0)115 911 The National Autistic Society, Elliot House, 113 2259 Masons Hill, Bromley, Kent, BR2 9HT, UK; tel: +44 (0)20 8466 0098; fax: +44 (0)20 8466 0118; The NAS in Greater London & South East email: [email protected] England Earlybird Centre

3 The National Autistic Society, 3 Victoria Crescent Northampton Street, London, N1 2HY, UK; tel: +44 West, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 2AE, UK; (0)20 7704 3800; fax: +44 (0)20 7704 3808; email: tel: +44 (0)1226 779218; fax: +44 (0)1226 771014; [email protected] email: [email protected] help! Programme South England The National Autistic Society, Church House, Julie Moynihan, Regional Co-ordinator - South, The Church Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7BD, UK; tel: National Autistic Society, Church House, Church +44 (0)117 974 8411; fax: +44 (0)117 987 2576; Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7BD; tel: +44 (0)117 email: [email protected] 974 8400; fax: +44 (0)117 987 2576; email: [email protected] Prospects The National Autistic Society, Studio 8, The Ivories, 6-8 Northampton Street, London, N1 2HY, Scotland UK; tel: +44 (0)20 7704 7450; Carol Evans, National Director – Scotland, The fax: +44 (0)20 7359 9440; email: National Autistic Society, Central Chambers, First [email protected] Floor, 109 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 6LL, UK; tel: +44 (0)141 221 8090; fax: +44 (0)141 221 8118; Prospects (Glasgow): +44 (0)141 248 1725 email: [email protected] Prospects (Leeds): +44 (0)113 236 6767 Prospects (Manchester): +44 (0)161 998 0577 Wales Shirley Parsley, National Co-ordinator - Wales, The Social Programmes National Autistic Society, Ground Floor, 6 & 7 Head of Befriending & Social Programmes, The Village Way, Greenmeadow Springs Business Park, National Autistic Society, Castle Heights, 6th Floor, Tongwynlais, Coryton, Cardiff, CF15 7NE, UK; tel: 72 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6BJ; tel: +44 (0)2920 629300; fax: +44 (0)2920 629317; +44 (0)7787 568815; email: email: [email protected] [email protected] Northern Ireland Training Services Department Regina Cox, National Co-ordinator – Northern The National Autistic Society, Castle Heights, 6th Ireland, The National Autistic Society, 57A Botanic Floor, 72 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JL, UK; tel: +44 (0)2890 6BJ, UK; tel: +44 (0)115 911 3363; fax: +44 (0)115 236235; fax: +44 (0)2890 262966; email: 911 3362; email: [email protected] [email protected]

Services Division

The NAS has contacts for services in each region in the UK.

North England Francine Brower, Regional Co-ordinator – North, The National Autistic Society, Anglo House, Chapel Road, Manchester, M22 4JN; tel: +44 (0)161 998 7860; fax: +44 (0)161 945 2703; email: [email protected]

Central England Ester Vickers, Regional Co-ordinator – Central, The National Autistic Society, Castle Heights, 2nd Floor, 72 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6BJ; tel: +44 (0)115 847 3503; fax: +44 (0)115 911 2259; email: [email protected] Autism Data, the NAS database of books, articles and multimedia on autism, is available to search on the NAS website at www.autism.org.uk/autismdata Greater London & South East England Jane Vaughan, Regional Co-ordinator, The National If you require further information please contact the NAS Autistic Society, Unit 9, The Ivories, 6/8 Information Centre.

4 Tel: + 44 (0)20 7903 3599 or 0845 070 4004.