Local services and information
The following websites contain information about autism for autistic people, their support networks, carers, professionals, and those who wish to learn more.
The Autism Information and Advice Service
The Autism Information and Advice Service is a free service that provides accessible information about autism and the support and services available locally. Anybody can access the service including autistic people, those awaiting an autism diagnosis, those who are self-identify as being an autistic person, their families, friends, carers, support networks, professionals, and anybody else who would like to learn more about autism.
Additionally, the service also provides a series of in-person drop-in events across Derbyshire and Derby. It also hosts the local Autism Alliance where members of the autistic community, their families, friends, and carers, along with professionals, can come together, share their experiences of autism and feed into the development of autism services in Derby and Derbyshire. It also provides support and training for local professionals and businesses seeking to develop their understanding of autism or to support autistic employees.
The Derbyshire Autism Information and Advice service is available to residents of Derbyshire and Derby and is provided by Citizen's Advice Mid-Mercia:
Living Well with Autism courses for autistic people, their families, carers, and support networks
If you are an autistic person, or support an autistic person, you may be interested in a new programme that's been commissioned by us and is being jointly delivered by Derbyshire Autism Services and Neurodiverse Self Advocacy.
The free, 6-session programme is designed to support autistic people - including those waiting for an autism diagnosis or who self-identify as an autistic person - as well as their families, carers, and support networks.
The sessions have been developed by and are facilitated by autistic people and features online and face-to-face sessions on a range of subjects, including:
- wellbeing and health advice
- rights and reasonable adjustments
- accessing support networks
- guest speakers
- question-and-answer sessions
To book a place on the Living well with Autism trainingemail: support@ndsa.uk or email: marta.walkowski@ndsa.uk
Living Well with Autism courses for frontline services and improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) practitioners
Would learning about autism help you and your organisation better support autistic people? If it would, you may be interested in the 2 new free training programmes called Living Well with Autism for frontline professionals, which have been commissioned by us and are being jointly delivered by Derbyshire Autism Services and Neurodiverse Self Advocacy.
The 2 different courses have been co-developed by and are facilitated by autistic people and are designed to give you the skills to support and help autistic people. The 2 bespoke and free courses are available to frontline professionals and IAPT practitioners and the monthly sessions will cover a wide range of topics including:
- creating autism-friendly environments
- understanding other conditions that can affect autistic people
- where you can find help and support
For more information:
Autism East Midlands
Autism East Midlands have lots of information about autism as well as support services for autistic adults and children. The website also includes details of specialist local events and training.
For more information:
Derbyshire Autism Services
Derbyshire Autism Services have information about services for adults, children, families and carers, siblings as well as a dedicated page for professionals. They also offer support groups, one to one support and social activities. For more information:
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provide health services to children and families, people with a learning disability, people experiencing mental health issues, and people with substances misuse needs. Tel: 01332 623700.
National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society have lots of information to support autistic people, including an online community where people can chat and share ideas. They also have a helpline offering specialist advice:
NHS
The NHS has a wide range of information about autism on their website.
Information for schools
Schools and maintained early years settings can refer to Autism Outreach for advice around individual pupils and training.
Autism Partnership Board
The Derbyshire Autism Partnership Board brings together autistic people, their parents, carers, the voluntary sector, local health and social care professionals, local authorities, and other services to work with commissioners to develop and improve services for autistic people of all ages across Derbyshire and Derby, as well as to raise awareness of autism, and to support the delivery of the action plan for the Derbyshire Health and Social Care All Age Autism Strategy 2023 to 2028.
The Derbyshire Autism Partnership Board meets over Microsoft Teams 4 times per year and is looking to engage further with autistic people, their families, carers, and support networks.
For more information, email: asch.ac-commissioning@derbyshire.gov.uk
The board worked together to create leaflets and posters to help other professionals, employers, and anyone else with an interest to better understand autism. The leaflets and posters are attached to this page:
- understanding autism
- understanding autism ageing
- understanding autism - employment
- top tips for communication with someone with autism (poster)
- small changes can make a big difference to someone with autism (poster)
You can order printed copies by email: adultcare.info@derbyshire.gov.uk.
The leaflet called 'Understanding autism - training' is only available to download.
Experts by Experience meetings
In conjunction with the Autism Partnership Board, we run an Experts by Experience meeting. In the context of this meeting, an Expert by Experience can be described an autistic person, someone who has personal experience of autism, or someone who provides care or support to an autistic person.
These meetings are a safe space for Experts by Experience to meet and discuss issues that they would like to raise at the Autism Partnership Board. Professionals can attend these meetings by invite for discussion or feedback.
These meetings are held over Microsoft Teams 4 times per year, and they are facilitated by our autism project officer.
For more information, email: asch.ac-commissioning@derbyshire.gov.uk.