Support & Information for Autistic Residents
All autistic adults are entitled to a Social Care Assessment, you would need to be diagnosed first to be eligible for an assessment. You can self-refer to the Newham Diagnostic Service for an autism assessment or ask a health professional to refer you e.g. Your GP.
An Autism Residents Advisory Group (ARAG) has been set up to help shape the Autism Strategy, share information and co-design future services in Newham. If you want to be part of shaping autism services in the future please join this group here.
As part of the development of the Autism Strategy we are working closely with the Senior Autism Peer Support Worker based in the Newham Diagnostic Service to help develop this page. We aim to offer a range of support and information that autistic residents can access for information, help and support. Family members, carers, friends, professionals and the general public can also use this page to find out about the range of information available to support autistic people in the community.
An Autism Information and Resource Pack can be found on the right of this page including our Autism Newsletter. Below are some of the key local and national information highlighted. If you know of any other autism support services that you would like to share and include in the pack or below please email us directly on Autism.Commissioning@newham.gov.uk and we will include the service.
We are also looking for autism champions in the community. If you have some availability to help build an autism friendly community please email us on Autism.Commissioning@newham.gov.uk . We would welcome anyone who has a passion to support autistic residents including parent, carers, family and friends general public, teachers and other professionals and local business.
1. Sunflower Lanyard: Hidden Disabilities
In Newham we do not consider autism as a disability, however many organisations will still classify autism as a disability in order to access support and services as defined by the law e.g. Equality Act 2010.
The Sunflower Lanyard is an internationally recognised brand which aims to highlight hidden disabilities, including Autism. By wearing this lanyard it will let people know that you might need extra help, understanding or just more time. A lot of organisations are already aware of the Sunflower Lanyard.
We will be promoting the sunflower lanyard with Health & Care professionals, Metropolitan Police, Fire Brigade, local business and the general public in Newham as part of our Autism Strategy in 2025, if you are autistic (or have a hidden disability) and would find it helpful to wear a sunflower lanyard they can be purchased here: Autistic ID Card & Lanyard with Cover
2. Autism Alert Card
The National Autistic Society Autism Alert Card is a national ID card that is designed specifically for autistic people to carry to let people know that you are autistic and that you might need some extra time or help in certain situations.
Benefits of the Autism Alert Card:
- Helps emergency services and other organisations to recognise they are dealing with someone who has Autism
- Helps the holder to feel safe and more confident when out and about
- Promotes better all round management of issues and situations involving people with Autism
- Helps raise awareness of Autism amongst professionals and the Criminal Justice System.
We will be promoting the Autism Alert Card with Health & Care professionals, Metropolitan Police, Fire Brigade, local business and the general public in Newham as part of our Autism Strategy in 2025, if you are autistic and would find it helpful to carry an Autism Alert Card, it can be purchased or downloaded for free here: https://www.autism.org.uk/shop/products/merchandise/alert-card
3. Autism Health Passport
The National Autistic Society Autism Health Passport is designed to help autistic people to communicate their needs to doctors, nurses and other health& care professionals. It is a quick and easy way to tell health and social care staff more information about you to help them give you good care and treatment.
The NHS endorse the use of a Health and Care Passport, more information in an easy read format can be found here: PRN00983iii-health-and-care-passport-easy-read.pdf
We will be promoting the Autism Health Passport with Health & Care professionals, Metropolitan Police, Fire Brigade, local business and the general public in Newham as part of our Autism Strategy in 2025, if you are autistic and would like an autism health passport you can down load it here Autism Health Passport
4. Peer Support Groups
If you are looking for a peer support group or activities or events to join immediately, please review our Autism Information and Resource Pack on the right of this page including our Autism Newsletter.
You can also join our Autism WhatsApp Broadcast group and the Autism Monthly News roundup. This is available for anyone interested in autism information and activities. Join by emailing Autism.Commissioning@newham.gov.uk with your mobile number or email.
During World Autism Acceptance Week 2-8 April 2025 we will also be running several activities and events, please check back on this page at the end of March to register for these events.
The Senior Peer Support Worker will be sharing a survey in late January 2025 to ask autistic residents what kinds of peer support groups they may like to access. If you would like to participate in this survey please return to this page in late January 2025 to check if the survey is open. We look forward to your input in shaping any future support groups.
More information
For young people with Autism, please see our Preparing for Adulthood section for information on:
- Support groups
- Employment
- Social and leisure services.
Find out about services available for children and young people with special educational needs as part of the Newham local offer.
