Welcome to the Autism Alliance UK’s supporter newsletter.
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What is the Autism Alliance UK?
The Autism Alliance UK is the national body for specialist not for profit organisations that support autistic people and their families.
We work together to share our knowledge, skills and experience in ways which can improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for autistic people.
Our vision is a society where autistic people can thrive and live their lives in their communities.
To achieve this, we work with a wide range of people and organisations to influence Government policy and build a vibrant, supportive community of autism specialist organisations providing services and support.
You can read more about our work here and our members here .
In this newsletter:
Autism Alliance News – an update on the work we have been doing, including influencing and member news
Autism in the News - our round-up of some recent news stories about autism
Things you can do – focussing on actions you could take to help create a more inclusive employment environment
Tell us what you think– share your views about how public services could better meet autistic people’s needs
Autism Alliance News
Adam to add in bullet point style as discussed in Away Day.
The Autism Alliance UK has been taking forward a range of work to support positive change for autistic people and their families.
Bee Neuroinclusive Fringe Event at Labour Party Conference
At this year’s Labour Party Conference in September, the Autism Alliance UK hosted a fringe event on neuroinclusion at work, with guest speakers Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Howard Dawber, Deputy London Mayor for Business. A particular focus was the excellent Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Best Practice in Greater Manchester, which was launched in October as part of the GM Good Employment Charter. Read more about the fringe event hereand find the Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Best Practice here.
DfE Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group
The Autism Alliance UK was part of an independent group commissioned by the Department for Education in England to provide advice to Ministers on how to meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education. The group’s report should be published in due course, and we are hopeful this can influence the direction of education policy.
House of Lords Autism Act Committee
The Autism Alliance UK gave evidence in-person and via submission to the House of Lords Special Inquiry Committee on the Autism Act 2009. This focused on the need for systemic change, which was a key feature of the Committee’s final report. The next step is for the Government to respond to the report, which it must do within two months.
Independent Commission on Adult Social Care
Baroness Louise Casey is leading an Independent Commission to make recommendations on the future of adult social care in England. Following the Commission’s initial evidence-gathering phase, the Autism Alliance UK hosted a roundtable for people with lived experience and parents/carers to provide feedback directly to the Commission team.
The Economic Case for Prioritising Autism in Policy and Reform
Together with Autistica, the UK’s autism research charity, the Autism Alliance UK commissioned a team at the London School of Economics to summarise high-standard economic evidence relating to services and supports for autistic people and their families. The LSE’s report sets out ten approaches with strong evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, and should be an important reference point for policy development. It is particularly relevant to the Government’s stated aim to shift from crisis to prevention in healthcare and its focus on inclusion in education.
Autism specialism in the not-for-profit sector
Reflecting a need amongst service commissioners for clearer information about not-for-profit organisations that support autistic people and their families, the Autism Alliance UK is working with its member charities to explore the characteristics of autism specialist organisations. With wide-ranging evidence of unmet need, it is vital that both commissioners and policymakers understand the importance of services that specialise in supporting autistic people and their families. We hope to produce a resource on autism specialism in 2026.
Tackling misinformation about autism
Unfortunately, there is currently a great deal of misinformation and misunderstanding about autism, not always helped by Government and the media. The Autism Alliance UK’s information sheet sets out the facts, and reinforces the fundamental importance of language in shaping an inclusive, accepting and supportive society and public services.
A stronger not-for-profit sector supporting autistic people and their families
The Autism Alliance UK holds four in-person meetings each year for its member organisations across the UK, enabling the sharing of information and expertise. Recent guest speakers have included Baroness Browning, member of the House of Lords Special Inquiry Committee on the Autism Act 2009, Simon Bottery from The King’s Fund and Professor Jonathan Green from the University of Manchester.
You can read more from the Autism Alliance UK in the reports we have published since 2023:
Real Change for Autistic People and their Families - establishing the key point that despite dedicated legislation and successive Government strategies, outcomes for autistic people have not improved as they should, because the barriers are systemic.
Breaking Point - revealing the extent to which adult social care is failing to recognise and meet the needs of autistic adults in England, all too often leading to crisis.
Doing the Right Thing - making recommendations to the Government around two of the ‘deep barriers’ holding back progress for autistic people and their families: strengthening accountability and developing a supportive culture.
Mainstream School Grant Applications Open
Autism Alliance member Sheila Coates Foundation have announced the opening of two new funding rounds offering £5,000 awards to mainstream secondary schools and colleges across England to support autistic students.
These small grants help autistic students thrive by supporting quick, practical solutions. Support for autistic young people in mainstream education is highly variable, and timely interventions can make a real difference.
Please share the link with your own affiliated mainstream schools.
Downloadable Toolkit for Secondary School Pupils
Alliance member Ambitious about Autism have created a free, downloadable resource for use in every secondary school within the UK.
The Autistic and OK programme, in collaboration with Zurich and the Z Zurich Foundation, aims to empower autistic pupils to take control of their mental health and wellbeing, understand themselves and feel OK.
Please explore, share and use this fantastic resource within your own communities.
Autism in the News
OMMT boosts healthcare students’ competence
New research at Aston University has shown that embedding the Tier 1 Oliver McGowan Training in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes significantly improves students’ awareness and confidence.
The University was one of the first higher education institutions in the UK to pilot Tier 1 OMMT across undergraduate healthcare programmes, including Nursing, Biomedical Science, Pharmacy, Optometry, and Physician Associate Studies, in 2025.
Comic convention guidance shaped by autistic fans
Last year the University of Cambridge asked autistic people to take part in a study aimed at improving autistic people’s experience of the comic industry, especially spaces like festivals and conventions and comic book stores.
Hundreds of autistic people contributed and there were 40 ways identified of making these spaces more inclusive. This guidance has now been turned into a 10-page comic.
Wigan mum creates ‘Harry’s Harness’
A mum needing a solution to keep her neurodivergent son safe originally designed a harness just for him, Harry. But soon it became clear that this would help more and more people and so it was released to buy earlier this year.
It offers a safe, respectful way to stay close, without restricting freedom and also keeps the wearers’ hands free.
Liverpool start-up connects neurodivergent talent with enterprise-level jobs
Neurovirse is a new company in Liverpool who match neurodivergent talent to jobs using AI-powered job matching. “Hire top talent, increase productivity, live your brand values” is what it advertises to companies.
The platform is co-designed by neurodivergent individuals at every stage and its aim is to tackle the stigma around neurodivergence and change the way it is understood in the workplace.
Lecturer’s neurodivergent son influences teaching practice
“How will this work for Jamie?” is something that is always in the back of his mind when preparing his work and lessons, says David Chapman, lecturer at North Hertfordshire College. After his own son was diagnosed with autism, he began to change his teaching practices to make them more inclusive of all students “This led me to ask: Would all learners benefit from increased structure and routine, even those without a neurodivergent diagnosis?”
Dr Who and the importance of representation
Katie Mulgrew, mum of an autistic son, shares how her son being able to relate to Dr Who has helped her understand his ‘fizzy’ brain better.
“When Tennant’s Doctor arrives properly, he barely stops talking or moving. He’s sword-fighting, then joking, then forgiving – and then he kills the baddy with a satsuma. All while repeating certain phrases to himself. My son laughed in recognition (he often repeats phrases to himself). He turned to me, eyes wide.“ He’s like me!” he said.”
Things you can do
The Autism Alliance’s vision is a world where autistic people can thrive and live their lives in their communities. In this section we are focussing on neuroinclusion in employment. Autistic people face some of the lowest levels of employment within our society - around 30%. Here we share useful information, links and ways you can help to change this.
The Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Best Practice
Part of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, the Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Best Practice is an accessible and well informed guide on including and supporting neurodivergent colleagues. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham says, “Neurodivergent people bring perspectives and problem-solving ability that can transform workplaces and drive progress.”
This easy to use guide can be shared and implemented by those already in employment as well as serve to steer neurodivergent people on what support they may need.
Ausome Charlie
Charlie Hart is an autistic keynote speaker who specialises in making workplaces more neuroinclusive. We have been lucky to have Charlie present at the Alliance and her work has had a real impact. For both employers and employees alike, Charlie’s work contains a wealth of knowledge and value, and most importantly - from someone with real experience.
Ambitious About Autism - Employer awareness
Education charity, and Autism Alliance member, Ambitious About Autism have produced a number of excellent tools for employers and young people, designed to improve awareness and opportunities for neurodivergent employees.
These include support and advice on recruitment, training, consultancy as well as Employer Toolkits for both employers and young autistic job seekers.
Neurodiversity Employers Index (NDEI)
Autisica, the UK’s leading autism research charity, have developed the Neurodiversity Employers Index (NDEI), providing evidence based tools, training and consultancy to workplaces. This is a gold standard tool for employers looking to improve practice. For employees, this is a tool for sharing with management as well as gaining knowledge yourself - for example, what to expect in a supportive work environment as well as which employers are NDEI award winning organisations.
“We know neurodiverse teams perform better. A thriving organisation needs big-picture thinkers, people who notice the crucial details, team players, innovators and creative problem solvers.”
Find a wealth of knowledge about success in the workplace at Genius Within, founded by Dr Nancy Doyle and a leading UK provider of neurodiversity services for business, non-commercial organisations and individuals.
In addition to vital services and support for employers, Genius Within also provides many helpful resources designed to share lived experience and increase understanding.
Tell us what you think
Neuroinclusion in the workplace
Autistic people face some of the greatest inequalities in the field of employment, with an estimated 7 in 10 autistic people unable to access meaningful work. We hear weekly from people who either very much want to work but are denied even the smallest of reasonable adjustments, as well as a growing cohort of exceptional self-employed entrepreneurs sharing amazing skills and reshaping the conventional world of work.
We would love to hear your experience and stories; successes and challenges, hopes and dreams, and what you think would help to redress this unacceptable statistic.
A final word
We hope you enjoyed reading this newsletter. We’ll send out a new edition every quarter, keeping you updated on our work, but if you’d prefer not to hear from us again, you can unsubscribe here.
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