Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. The internet is full of information regarding autism. The most reliable sources of information are the two organisations below:
The National Autistic Society
The Autism Education Trust (AET)
Look at their websites and search for the information you need.
Local support groups include SASSI, Solihull Autistic Spectrum Support and Information, they run events and organise talks on relevant topics.
If you are concerned that your child may have autistic traits please discuss this with your child’s class teacher. Where the school agrees that there is reason to believe a child has autism, we will support you to complete a referral form for the Specialist Assessment Service. This is a long process, the referral will not be accepted without a minimum of two terms of school based evidence, once accepted there is an extremely long waiting list currently over a year.
For further information and support contact Autism West Midlands using the following link:
www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk
This provides a range of support services to families and carers of autistic children including: an information helpline, family outreach workers, support groups and training.