Autism
Find information and advice on Autism, including the difficulties people face getting a diagnosis and support
Autism is considered a spectrum condition. It affects the way a person experiences the world and sometimes how they communicate. Whilst Autistic people share some similar characteristics, they are all different from each other and may experience these characteristics in varying levels of complexity.
Some Autistic people are able to live independent lives but others may need further support throughout their lives.
Find further Autism information in Connect to Support.
Help from Adults' Health and Care
You will need to check that you are eligible for help from Adult Services. This would depend on an assessment of your needs and the outcomes you want to achieve that are affecting your ability to live well
If you are a young person aged 16 to 18 moving into the care of Adult Services find out how you can get support with your transition to adulthood
Help with making decisions
An advocate can help you if you have no family or friends to help you. They can help you if you have to make important decisions about health services and council services like care or housing.
The Hampshire Autism Partnership Board (HAPB)
The Hampshire Autism Partnership Board (HAPB) was set up to address the issues specific to autism in Hampshire.
Fifty per cent of people with autism also have a learning disability; this can make autism harder to recognise and therefore understand. The HAPB links closely to the work being undertaken by the Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership Board.
For more information about the implementation of the Hampshire Autism Strategy for Adults please contact [email protected] Autism Strategy Lead for Adult Services.
How to be involved
Hampshire Autism Voice (HAV) is the parent, carers and people-with-autism group established by the HAPB to ensure the full participation of Autistic individuals, their families and carers.
HAV has been developed to give a voice and active involvement to Autistic individuals, their parents and carers within the HAPB and the autism strategy workstreams. HAV actively participate in the planning, delivery and monitoring of services for children, young people and adults with autism living in Hampshire.
The Group is made up of representatives from:
- Autistic individuals who live in Hampshire
- parents and carers supporting an Autistic individual living in Hampshire
The Autism Ambassador Scheme for Hampshire was launched in May 2015. Being an Ambassador provides the opportunity to make a difference to Autistic individuals and their families.