For children and young people (up to 18):
Please see the Autism, ADHD and ADD support and assessment (opens link in new window) page.
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Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a processing difference that can have an impact on many areas of a person’s life. Autistic people often experience differences in how they process information, their sensory environment and how they interact with other people.
While autistic people share some similar characteristics, they are also all different from each other. This is because autism is considered a spectrum. The autism spectrum is not linear from high to low but varies in every way that one person might vary from another. There is no ‘typical’ autistic person. Every autistic individual has their own strengths, differences and needs, their own life journey and their own unique story.
Some people who have Autism may also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions.
Having an Autism assessment will identify what strengths, differences and needs someone may have and how those can be supported at home and school and address any concerns.
Most importantly, it can help someone understand their differences and navigate the world around them.
Additional support for children and young people with Autism is provided by:
- the Early Years SEN Team for children aged 0-5 (EYSEND Team), and
- Kirklees Complex Communication and Interaction Outreach Team (CCI Team) for children and young people over 5
This team offers inclusion provide support and advice to all early years settings (private, voluntary, independent and maintained) around young children with complex needs including social communication difficulties.
Portage is part of the team and provide home-based specialist teaching support to very young children with complex needs including those with social communication needs (where not yet attending an early years setting).
This team meets the special educational needs of children and young people in schools with social communication difficulties including Autism. This covers all children and young people with social communication needs regardless of any referral to the Autism Assessment Team.
Educational Psychology Service (EP service)
Educational Psychology are part of the Kirklees Council Learning and Early Support Service and work with parents, schools and other agencies to support children and young people age 0-25. They help school staff, parents and carers to find solutions to improve the learning outcomes of children and young people and support children and young people’s social and emotional development and wellbeing.
Sensory Occupational Therapy service
Some children and young people with Autism also have some sensory needs. Within Kirklees we have a team of sensory occupational therapists who can provide support. Sensory OT's work across Kirklees with children and young people with sensory integration difficulties that are impacting on their development and independence. They work closely with teachers and other professionals to train and advise those working with the child and young person to understand and recognise their sensory needs. They give advice on making changes to the child’s environment and strategies to meet sensory needs and to help develop independence.
NASEN have produced a guide that discusses Autism in girls. The guide can be found by clicking the picture below this will open a new window.
There are many services, charities and helpful websites that can help everyone affected by Autism and your mental health. Here are some of those:
The Huddersfield Support Group for Autism offers advice, meetings, trips and events amongst other things. They are a voluntary, self-help group of individuals and families living or working with Autism. Please join the group if it is for you. A confirmed diagnosis of ASD is not needed to join.
A local Autism support group in Kirklees that offers mutual support and access to literature, training courses and professional guests. The support group is accessible by the whole family, from individuals affected by Autism, siblings, parents and carers to extended family members, greatly reducing the isolation felt by many.
The UK's leading charity for people on the Autism spectrum and their families. They provide support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for Autistic people.
The AET works to support schools, local authorities and parents & carers with information advice and guidance around improving access to education and outcomes for those with autism. They have made a lot of really useful guides for parents including (all links open a PDF in new page):
- Working together with your child's school (opens link in new window)
- Guide to finding the right school for your Autistic child (opens link in new window)
- Legal guide for parents/carers if their Autistic child is excluded (opens link in new window)
- School refusal, anxiety and the impact on the family
NHS
The NHS's website provides some general knowledge, guidance, information on what to do next and getting a diagnosis on Autism.
You can also find information about local support groups for parents/carers on theLocal Offer Support Groups and Advice page (opens link in new window)
en-GBLast updated: 21/09/2021
