Autism

Name	Autism
Related to/Also known as	Asperger's Syndrome
Symptoms of Autism	Autism is a lifelong developmental disability, which affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. People with autism have difficulties with everyday social interaction, with social communication (including not understanding facial expressions and tone of voice), and with imagination. This triad of impairments can occur by itself, but is often accompanied by other developmental disorders and learning disabilities. "The National Autistic Society is clear that there is no link between autism and the MMR vaccine." Source: National Autistic Society https://tinyurl.com/yy6gp9m2
Types
Useful national contacts	The National Autistic Society www.autism.org.uk Helpline: 0808 800 4104 Autism Initiatives www.autisminitiatives.org/default.aspx Autism Assistance Dogs https://tinyurl.com/ybqkgqea Scottish Autism www.scottishautism.org Tel. 01259 720 044 Autism Northern Ireland www.autismni.org Tel. 028 9040 1729 Autism Cymru www.autism-cymru.org Tel: 02920 463 263 Autistica charity which funds and campaigns for research to understand the causes of autism, improve diagnosis, and develop evidence-based interventions www.autistica.org.uk
Children & young people	FACT (Families of Autistic Children Together) www.factautism.org.uk Parents and carers (National Autistic Society) https://tinyurl.com/y6nwgrjm Family support (National Autistic Society) https://tinyurl.com/jua6ryx Ambitious About Autism (for children and young people with autism) www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk Tel. 020 8815 5444
News and Events	Blue Badge rules have changed in England for autistic people (National Autistic Society, 2019) https://tinyurl.com/ybxx4v32 'Media speculation about US President's views on autism' (National Autistic Society, February 2017) https://tinyurl.com/y5ljkh5q 'Vaccines not linked with autism, study finds' (NHS website, May 2014) https://tinyurl.com/y2yedtd9
Online resources	Coronavirus Resources (National Autistic Society) www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines/coronavirus/resources.aspx 'Our position - MMR vaccine' (National Autistic Society) https://tinyurl.com/yy6gp9m2 Talk About Autism (online discussion forum for children and young people) www.talkaboutautism.org.uk Your Community (National Autistic Society online discussion forum) http://community.autism.org.uk Autism Spectrum disorders including Asperger's syndrome (Contact, charity with families with disabled children https://tinyurl.com/rejr3f5
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Autism and on a wide-range of disability related issues. Visit our library to read Can I tell you about autism? A guide for friends, family and professionals by J. Welton and J. Telford. Or have a look in your local library for this book.