Our Charity
The National Autistic Society is the leading charity in the United Kingdom dedicated to supporting autistic individuals and their families. Established in 1962, the organization works to increase public understanding of autism, provide essential services, and advocate for policy changes that improve the lives of autistic people. Through education, employment support, and community programs. The National Autistic Society helps individuals on the autism spectrum lead fulfilling and independent lives. The charity also campaigns for a more inclusive society, ensuring that autistic people receive the respect, support, and opportunities they deserve.
Our Three Goals
- Support all autistic individuals and their families to live a fulfilled life on their terms
- Influence and collaborate with others to improve standards and adjustments
- Transform society by building understanding, acceptance and respect for all autistic people
Our Vision
A society that works for autistic people.
Our mission to transform lives by providing support, information and practical advice for more than 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers.
To change attitudes by improving public understanding of autism and helping businesses, local authorities and government to provide more autism-friendly spaces, deliver better services and improve laws.
Our Values
Pioneering
We are experts who recognise and value expertise in others. We are dedicated to inspiring ourselves and others and to making change.
Empowering
Through trust and leadership, we maximise autistic power.
Upfront
We are realistic, confident and honest.
Inclusive
Respect is at our core. We embrace diversity and tackle discrimination.
Our Plan
To continue with refurbishments in our adult services
To launch newly revamped areas of our website including a new-look Autism Services Directory, upgraded online community platform and a tool to help people find the right advice for them
To launch new advice pages on diagnosis and employment, including a huge range of new resources
To increase diagnosis and assessment service capacity
To begin building our new centre in Randalstown in Northern Ireland
To build on the positive evaluation of our Embrace Autism programme in Scotland and deliver it to a further 100 people
To develop a peer-support and volunteer strategy which includes branches
To train other organisations in our Skills for Life programme for young people so that autistic young people across Northern Ireland have opportunities to develop skills for independence
To expand the number of parent support branches in Northern Ireland
To run a campaign on the lack of service provision for autistic people in Northern
Ireland with complex and high support needs and their families.