The National Autistic Society exists to champion the rights and interests of all people with autism and to ensure that they and their families receive quality services appropriate to their needs.

The NAS does this by:

• raising professional and public awareness of the needs of people with autism, their families and carers
• working with governments and other organisations to provide and promote education, care, support and information to people with autism, their families and carers
• lobbying and providing information to legislators and funding bodies to ensure adequate funding for services
• encouraging research into the causes and the effective management of autism.
• providing ongoing information and support through NAS Membership.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) was founded in 1962 by a group of parents and people with a professional interest in autism. Today, the Society has become the UK 's foremost charity for people with autism, including Asperger syndrome, and for their parents and carers. The NAS leads national and international initiatives providing a strong voice for autism. The organisation works in many areas to help people with an autistic spectrum disorder live their lives with as much independence as possible.

The NAS

• has over 15,000 members
• runs schools and adult centres
• supports local authorities in the development of their own specialist services
• maintains a library available to parents and researchers by appointment
• publishes a range of books and leaflets
• runs the Autism Helpline for parents, carers and people with autistic spectrum disorders
• organises conferences and training programmes
• offers specialised diagnosis and assessment services
• supports local groups and families around the country
• organises parent workshops
• encourages research into interventions in autism
• offers advice and advocacy for special educational needs
• raises awareness and creates a better understanding of autism
• organises volunteering schemes
• provides information and consultancy to professionals and organisations working in the field of autism
• offers an accreditation programme for a wide range of autism-specific education and care services
• runs Prospects, a supported employment service, for adults with an autistic spectrum disorder
• campaigns to improve services for autism in Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales
• has over 70 Branches and employs over 2,000 staff.

The NAS website

www.autism.org.uk (opens in a new window)

The NAS website contains a wealth of material for a range of audiences:

• information for people with an ASD, their families and carers, doctors, teachers, local authority staff and other professionals
• information sheets on autism-related topics
• frequently asked questions about ASD
• links to other related websites
• details of other autistic societies and the NAS publications catalogue for online ordering
• information about the NAS - its services, branches, maps and contact details for its offices, how to join the Society, job vacancies, opportunities for volunteering and fundraising initiatives
• membership - information on NAS membership including member benefits and how to join
• news and campaigns - regularly updated news about current events in the media and in the world of autism, and about NAS campaigning activities at Westminster, the Scottish and Welsh devolved institutions, as well as an archive of news releases

Other services provided by the NAS

The NAS provides a wide range of services for people with an ASD, their families and carers, as well as for professionals throughout the UK.

• Diagnosis
  Diagnostic and assessment services at the Centre for Social and Communication Disorders in Bromley, Kent
• For children
  Six schools for children with ASD
• For adults
  • Services based at 18 sites for adolescents and adults with ASD
  • Prospects - a supported employment consultancy for adults with autistic spectrum disorders
• Specific programmes
  • A licensed training scheme in early intervention for parents of pre-school children sourced at the NAS EarlyBird Centre in Barnsley, Yorkshire
  • The help! programme offering support, advice and practical strategies to parents of older children
• Support services
  • The Autism Helpline 0845 070 4004 offers impartial advice and information to UK enquirers: individuals with an ASD, parents, family members and carers, and information to professionals and students.
  • Parent to Parent and befriending schemes - run by volunteers
  • Branches and partnership work with other societies offering information on a local basis
  • Family support workers, special projects and respite schemes where funding is available
  • A membership scheme to provide ongoing information and support
• Development work
  • The NAS team of Regional and National Co-ordinators/Officers in its six regions (Scotland, Wales, North, Central, London & South East, and South) are the first point of contact for local authorities seeking to develop and expand services for people with an ASD
  • The NAS is able to offer consultancy advice to organisations around the world wanting to develop their services
• Publications and information services
  • The publications department at the NAS has a regularly updated, extensive list of publications on autism and Asperger syndrome, consisting of publications produced by the Society and others selected from a wide range of publishers; these can be acquired though the NAS catalogue, which is available in hard copy or on-line
  • The NAS provides information on all aspects of ASD in response to requests from professional and student enquirers and its library has study space available by appointment
• Training services
  • The Training Department can provide a range of tailored programmes for statutory, private and voluntary organisations
  • A licensed training scheme in early intervention for parents of pre-school children sourced at the NAS EarlyBird Centre in Barnsley, Yorkshire
• Accreditation
  

  Autism Accreditation offers an accreditation programme for autism-specific education and care services

NAS Contact details

The National Autistic Society
393 City Road
London EC1V 1NG

Switchboard: 020 7833 2299
Helpline: 0845 070 4004
Minicom: 0845 070 4003
Fax: 020 7833 9666

Email: nas@nas.org.uk
Website: www.autism.org.uk

The National Autistic Society is a registered Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No 1205298.

Registered as a Charity No 269425