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Welcome to The Spectrum

We embrace neurodiversity and are curious about exploring and understanding how different ways of thinking can shape us, our communities, and our world.

If you feel that you, your child, or a person you care about may be on the autism spectrum, you’re not alone, and we’re here to answer your questions.

We aim for The Spectrum to reflect our commitment to community and inclusion. We use both person-first language (“person with autism”) and identity-first language (“autistic person”) across the site to respect individual choice.

What is autism?

There is no one experience of autism. Clinically referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) it is a different way of thinking, a neurological developmental difference that changes the way you relate to the environment and people around you.

Put simply, there is not one single experience of autism, rather autism is a varied range of abilities and character traits.

Getting a diagnosis

If you feel as though you, your child, or someone you care about is on the autism spectrum, start by getting to know the signs and characteristics relating to autism.

If signs of autism are identified, the next step may be to speak with your General Practitioner (GP) to get a referral for an autism assessment

Strategies & Interventions

Understanding how autism will impact on you, your child, or your loved one’s life will allow you to support challenges and build on strengths.

Because everyone experiences autism differently, the strategies and interventions used will be different for everyone and should be designed to meet your or your loved ones specific developmental needs and goals.

Support & Services

If you, your child or someone you care about has been diagnosed with autism, you will want the very best care and support.
If you’re entering into a world of new appointments and consultations there are a vast number of highly qualified support professionals, with significant experience working with people on the autism spectrum, who can support you on your journey.

Video

Autism & Me

Members of the autism community and their families share lived experience on their autism journeys.

Video Transcription

One of the main things I like to explain is that people with autism have varied abilities and character traits, there’s not one single experience of autism.

— Zoran Bekric

I have Asperger’s syndrome and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And - given the right circumstances - being different is a superpower.

— Greta Thunberg

I would play with numbers in a way that other kids would play with their friends.

— Daniel Tammet

People on the spectrum experience the neurotypical world as relentlessly unpredictable and chaotic, perpetually turned up too loud, and full of people who have little respect for personal space.

— Steve Silberman

Everyone has a mountain to climb and autism has not been my mountain, it has been my opportunity for victory.

— Rachel Barcellona

Although people with autism look like other people physically, we are in fact very different in many ways. We are more like travellers from the distant, distant past. And if, by being here, we could help the people of the world remember what truly matters for the Earth, that would give us a quiet pleasure.

— Naoki Higashida