You can use this directory to find out about the various services that can further support you as a member of the autism community, whether it is through Education, Health or even Social Support (just to name a few).

HOW TO NAVIGATE

The services are grouped under tabs based on the service they provide such as Education.

Each service comes with a symbol, shown on the left. This symbol is a link to that service’s website where you can get into contact with this service for further help. Some services may have more symbols which are other ways to contact this service.

Autism Education Trust

A Nationwide not for profit programme led by two national autism charities – the National Autistic Society (NAS) and Ambitious about Autism (AaA) in partnership with autistic young people, parents/carers, academics and professionals to help train other professionals or carers who support those with autism.

The Autism Educational Trust offers training through a professional development program split into 3 education phases of autistic people: Early Years, School and Post-16 which are all split into training modules. These are offered either online or in training centres all across the country.

Aspris Children’s Services

One of the leading providers of specialist education and residential care services in the UK offering expert specialist education for children and young people aged 5 to 25 with a range of conditions and special education needs, including autism and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties.

Aspris Children's Services offer a broad curriculum, with the choice of both academic and vocational courses in a variety of subjects (up to A-Level standard) whilst also engaging students in independence programmes through therapeutic and supportive and residential environments which help students achieve their academic, independence and social goals, so that they can become successful adults.

Birtenshaw Group

A Liverpool and Bolton based social enterprise business that aims to improve the quality of life of all those they support, so that they may become confident and independent members of the community by provide a range of care, education and therapy services for children and young people with Special Needs such as Autism.

The Birtenshaw Group have a specialist school for people aged 3-19 in both Liverpool and Bolton. They also have a specialist college in Bolton for people aged 16-25. They run children’s homes that can also offer respite care and offer adult supported living that also offers an enrichment day service also in Bolton.

Communication College Doncaster

A national specialist college based in Doncaster providing education and learning opportunities for people with specialist communication needs, including deafness, autism and learning difficulties.

Communication College Doncaster offers a wide range of programmes for students who want to gain job and life related qualifications, gain independence and develop their social skills through various pathways. The work pathway provides a distinctive, industry-focused learning environment for students, whilst the life and living pathways are designed to maximise personal and social development.

West Kirby School and College

A non-maintained (not controlled by Local Authority) special school, ran by charity West Kirby Residential School, catering to children and young people aged 5-19 who have complex special educational needs such as social/communication difficulties such as Autism. They aim to have young people to leave with academic qualifications and developed social, emotional and communication skills.

West Kirby School and College offers each pupil structured, supportive learning through an individualised, innovative curriculum developed with the aspirations and interests of the student at the centre of their education. They offer qualifications all the way up to A-Levels.

NHS Aspergers Team

The NHS’ official Merseyside Aspergers and Autism Support team.

The NHS Aspergers Team offer you either 1 to 1 support or group sessions with Asperger&Autism specialist psychologists. The 1 to 1 sessions can be tailor made based on an initial screening they will invite you too. They also offer a Post-Diagnostic Course which is a 12 week course that gives people a chance to learn about how Aspergers&Autism work and what strategies can be learned to help cope with them.

LFC Foundation

Liverpool Football Club’s official charity who aim to provide accessible and inclusive football sessions to children and adults with any impairment, difficulties or abilities.

LFC Foundation have a scheme called ‘Kicks Inclusion’ which provides free sports activities for children, young people and adults with additional learning, behaviour, physical and sensory needs across Merseyside. There are sessions for kids of different age groups ranging from 5-16 and sessions for those who are 17+.

The M Word

A Nationwide Community Interest Company that helps bridge the gap between Mental Health and Autism through supporting families with assessments, screening and therapy by qualified staff.

The M Word uses Emotional Problem Solving, a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and Counselling to empower people to regain control of their life without the use of medication. They also offer an initial screening for Autistic people to help them decide whether it is worth seeing a Clinical Psychologist or use the screening in a child’s EHCP for a future private Clinical Psychologist or the child’s school, to provide the best support possible.

Talk Liverpool

A free Liverpool-based NHS service offering psychological therapies to adults in Liverpool who are feeling depressed or anxious.

Talk Liverpool offer a range of treatment programmes designed to give you the right information and to help you develop the skills you need to overcome your problems such as short courses which run regularly in locations near you or online help which you can use from the convenience of your home.

Wheels for All

A Nationwide community based cycling scheme that enables people to cycle, regardless of their age, ability or cycling experience. They embrace disabled people and people who would otherwise not be able to cycle, through providing fun and friendly activity.

Wheels for All have hubs and centres all over the country where you can either: Ride out in the community from start and finish from one of their cycle hubs, complete with bikes and helmets which you can borrow if needed OR go to one of their centres where you can cycle using specially adapted cycles for every participant, young or old, allowing anyone to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

Aspergers Collective

A Liverpool-based ‘collective’ of service users, carers and professionals who offer a service to help and support adults (18+) who have Asperger Syndrome.

The Aspergers Collective runs a drop in service on the last Friday of every month where people can “drop in” to a warm and welcoming space for service users and carers to access services, participate in activities of interest and to find out more information about what’s available in the local community.

Aspie Heroes Night

A Liverpool-based social group dedicated to promoting the independence of autistic people between 16-25 by bringing them to a place away from home, even if just for a few hours.

Aspie Heroes Night offers a safe, warm environment offering games, workshops and snacks to those who attend allowing autistic people can socialise with other like minded people and through workshops, learn new skills for the future.

Autism in Motion

A Liverpool-based parent led organisation providing support, advice and guidance for families of children with neurological conditions mainly Autism and ADHD aged between 5-15.

Autism in Motion runs courses, advice sessions and coffee mornings for the parent/carers to attend as well as offering social activities including days out to allow opportunities for parents without confidence or support to attend as part of a group whilst building on the children’s social skills.

Ladders of Life

A Liverpool-based social enterprise that supports adults with Autism&ADHD as well as the parents of Autism&ADHD children through a non-threatening, friendly but more importantly confidential service.

Ladders of Life runs group sessions every Thursday were people can talk about their lives with Autism&ADHD and hear from other people with the same conditions. Ladders also do 1 to 1 sessions for those people who feel their problems are too personal for the group or are not yet ready to be in front of that many people.

Yellow House

A Liverpool-based charity devoted to the social and emotional well-being of young people, providing a safe and sound environment where they can gain self-understanding, confidence and inspiration for the future.

Yellow House runs creative workshops giving young people a chance to explore a broad range of artistic interests to enable them to constantly improve and develop new skills both inside and outside of the arts. Yellow House also run workshops all over the community, tailored to any age range, nationality, or ability level; aiming to help people explore a variety of issues and develop the confidence to discuss, explore and create in response to those issues.

Home from Home Care

A Lincolnshire-based family run group driven by wanting to make a difference to and offer high standards in the care and support of the living needs of those with disabilities.

Home from Home Care offer learning disability care homes with spacious, communal environments for social interaction, balanced with privacy and personal space. Each individual’s en-suite bedroom/personal living space is thoughtfully personalised to reflect their aesthetic, physical needs and to facilitate the delivery of their person focused care and support.

Lifeways

The UK’s leading team of support professionals helping adults with diverse and complex needs to live independent, fulfilling and happy lives along with helping them to follow their dreams either from home or in supported living.

Lifeways offer a range of different support options for people living with autism that's designed to meet individual needs by spending time with the adult, their family members and care professionals close to the adult, to gain an understanding of the challenges the person may have already overcome and what they need help to overcome in the future.

Orkid Ideas

A Nationwide project founded by a Mother and her Autistic Son who are driven by their passion to help improve lives with visual supports that work for you, not that make work for you.

Orkid Ideas invented the TomTag, a visual support aid of plastic tags where you place click-on buttons on them which have symbols representing the things that people need to remember such as check-lists or symbols representing visual cues such as emotions or needs that non-verbal people need.

Safespaces

A Nationwide company who works with families and healthcare professionals of individuals with complex needs including learning disabilities, autism, epilepsy and challenging behaviours who may be unsafe in an ordinary room or bed.

Safespaces work with people to design and supply safe rooms, and high-sided beds for the individuals. They will assess and recommend which safe space is right for them whether it be a safe room, a raised bed or a compact space fit for travel use.

Tough Furniture

A Nationwide family run business who work closely with care professionals to understand and cope with a wide spectrum of challenging physical behaviours around furniture such in order to provide furniture-based solutions.

Tough Furniture offers tailor made furniture solutions, such as a TV cabinet which locks the TV into place (so it won’t accidentally fall) or a sturdy wardrobe (for those who are heavy handed), based on what you require. They will manufacture, deliver and install the furniture as part of their design plan. They will also help you reach out to charities and partners to help with funding if you need it.

TTS Group

A Nationwide company who enjoys working together to achieve the aim of giving every child, every day, a reason to love learning by providing thousands of resources that people will need.

TTS Group offer a catalogue system through their website similar to the shop Argos but it is made entirely of resources to help people with disabilities learn ranging from printed books to programmable floor robots.

Widget

A Nationwide family company that believe everybody should have fair and equal access to information and that it can be achieved through making this information more visual by use of symbols.

Widget offer a number of different softwares that enable anyone to create documents or visual cards with Widgit Symbols, a bank of over 20,000 images specifically designed to support written text. These can be printed out for people to use as documents or with various low-tech communication aids such as boards. They can also be used digitally on computers, tablets or other high-tech communication aids.