Autism
Find information and advice on Autism, including the ways Hampshire County Council and associated partners are supporting Autistic people and those who support them
Autism is a spectrum condition and affects people in different ways in terms of the way a person interacts with and experiences the world around them. Autistic people can be any age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity, and people are born autistic and will be autistic for all their life.
Autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses, and Autism is often referred to as 'the hidden disability' as it is not immediately apparent to others. Many 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 Adults' Health and Care. 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 Adults' Health and Care 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 be a decision-making body, which shares information and develops a strategy to improve services for Autistic people of all ages in Hampshire.
Some Autistic people may also have co-occurring conditions, such as a Learning Disability or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and may require different levels of support. The HAPB links closely to the work being undertaken by the Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership.
For more information about the implementation of the Hampshire Autism Strategy for Adults, please contact [email protected] Autism Strategy Lead for Adults' Health and Care.
How to be involved
Hampshire Autism Voice (HAV) is the group of Experts by Experience (Autistic person or parent/carer of an Autistic person) 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 participates in the planning, delivery and monitoring of services for children, young people and Autistic adults 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 with over 1,200 ambassadors trained across our communities. Being an Ambassador provides the opportunity to make a difference to Autistic individuals and their families.
Further guidance and support
If you are unable to find the relevant support, get in touch with Adult's Health and Care: