Resources

Below you can find information and links for useful resources.

NICE guidelines

Summary:

Our pathway is also informed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, around diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adults. This means that we have a multidisciplinary team who have engaged in specialist training to administer the recommended tools. The diagnostic interview is designed around these guidelines, to ensure that it is comprehensive and collaborative.

Confidentiality Policy & Procedure

This policy outlines our commitment to protecting the confidentiality of service user information within our organisation. We recognise the importance of safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring service user privacy in accordance with relevant legislation and ethical principles.

Post-assessment Support

Identifying of autism is only the beginning of the journey. Many clients prefer to engage in post-assessment support through therapy that is specifically neuroaffirmative to further explore and understand their own presentation of ASC, their autistic traits, and how these play a role in their lives. They also value the opportunity to reframe and reflect on their experiences via a ‘new’ perspective, identify ways to cope with their day-to-day challenges and think about how or when to disclose their assessment outcome to other people and how to navigate the future with this newfound knowledge.

Bookshelf:

Recommendations made by autistic people, service users and clinicians:

‘The Autistic Brain’ by Temple Grandin and Richard Panek

An informative, affirming read to help understand the diversity of brains, written by an autistic person. The book aims to help the reader better understand Autism, through lived experience, neuroscience and genetic research

‘Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity’ by Dr Devon Price

Dr Devon Price is a social psychologist, professor, author, autistic and gender-diverse person. He writes about embracing neurodiversity at both an individual and societal level.

‘Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved my Life’ by Emily Katy

Emily shares her experience of growing up with undiagnosed autism and the process of receiving and understanding her diagnosis.

‘The reason I Jump’ and ‘Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8’ by Naoki Higashida

Written by a person with largely non-verbal autism who conveys his message using an alphabet grid. Naoki writes about the differences between a neurotypical and neurodiverse existence, aiming to raise awareness of both the strengths and difficulties that he notices.

The Spectrum magazine

A magazine featuring articles, artwork, poetry and more. You can download this for free or pay for a paper subscription.

Subscribe here:  https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/the-spectrum