Everyone is a unique individual and should not feel as though they must change who they are to fit in with others.

There is help available to understand what being diagnosed as autistic means, how to manage the difficulties, and how to access other support services, such as support workers and benefits if necessary.

Anyone diagnosed with autism does not need to be ‘fixed’ or ‘cured’, rather some may need support with some aspects of their life, whilst other autistic people may not require any support.

Depending on your needs discussed in assessment, you will be signposted to the most appropriate services. 

image.png Autism Links, is dedicated to making those helpful and sometimes vital links, it covers who to talk to, where to go and contains lots of helpful advice all in one place.  
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The National Autistic Society (NAS), has lots of information about autism and is a useful and reliable resource for learning more about ASC and what local services may be available. 

  
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Autistica, is the UK’s national autism research charity – lots of resources and information on their website. You can subscribe to the Autistica YouTube Channel to watch webinars on various topics.

  
image.png The Curly Hair Project, is a social enterprise which supports people on the autistic spectrum and the people around them, founded by autistic author Alis Rowe. We use cool things like animated films, comic strips and diagrams to make our work interesting and easy to understand!” Paid subscription to access most of the material and there are autism related products for sale.  
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Minds & Hearts, provides services specifically for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, with a focus on Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism. “Minds & Hearts is a private clinic led by Dr David Zimmerman and Dr Wesley Turner, Clinical Psychologists. The clinic was founded by Dr Michelle Garnett in 2005 to meet the enormous need for Allied Health Services specifically tailored for people on the Autism Spectrum,and to increase knowledge and awareness of Autism.”

  
image.png Simon Baron-Cohen, is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Cambridge and Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is Director, Autism Research Centre (ARC) in Cambridge.  

 

 

General books

Exploring Depression and Beating the Blues: A CBT Self-Help guide to understanding and Coping with depression in Asperger’s Syndrome – Tony Attwood and Michelle Garnett

Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger’s Syndrome - Liane Holliday Willey, Tony Attwood

Been There. Done That. Try This! An Aspie’s Guide to Life on Earth – Craig Evans, Anita Lesko, Tony Attwood and other authors

I am an Aspie Girl: A book for young girls with autism spectrum conditions – Danuta Bulhak-Paterson

Safety Skills for Asperger Women - Liane Holliday Willey, Tony Attwood

 

Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism – Barb Cook and Michelle Garnet

Aspie Girl’s Guide to Being Safe with men: The Unwritten Safety Rules No-one is Telling you -  Debie Brown

 

My Autism Awakening: Unlocking the Potential for a Life well Lived – Rachel Lee Harris

The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome - Tony Attwood

Social Skills for Teenagers and Adults with Asperger Syndrome- Nancy J Patrick

Asperger’s Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide - Barbara Bissonnette

 

 

The Complete Guide to Getting a Job for People with Asperger’s Syndrome -Barbara Bissonnette

 

Sensory Integration and the child - Jean Ayre

 

Love, sex and Long term relationships: What People with Asperger Syndrome Really Really want by Sarah Hendrickx

The Asperger’s Couple’s Workbook: practical Advice and Activities for couples and Counsellors by Maxine Aston

Women and Autism - specific resources for females with ASC:

 

22 Things a woman with Asperger’s Syndrome wants her Partner to know – Rudy Simone

Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome” -Rudy Simone

 

Asperger’s and Girls: World-renowned experts join those with Asperger’s Syndrome to resolve issues that girls and women face every day!”  Tony Attwood.

Health matters

The National Autism website provides some useful information with regards to the attendance of health appointments that helps autistic people communicate their needs to health care professionals who they may meet in hospital.  Useful resources can be found on website

‘My Hospital Passport’ is a resource for people with autism who might need hospital treatment. The passport.

 

In an emergency, go to A&E call 999 or NHS111.

 

Our Autism and Mental Health Support Team delivers training aimed at health and social care professionals to help you understand and work effectively with adults with autism in your services.

The service supports professionals working with adult service users with a diagnosis of autism who are under their care for a mental health need.
 
The team does not see service users directly or carry out joint appointments with the individual but will work with the health professional or multidisciplinary team through one-to-one consultation and advice.

Support for professionals

The team provide support to mental healthcare professionals by:

  • Facilitating discussion about how a service user's diagnosis of autism may be impacting on their accessing and engagement of therapeutic services
  • Considering reasonable adjustments that may help a service user to engage in the appropriate services
  • Identifying how a service user's autism may be impacting on their mental health.

As well as one-to-one consultation for mental health professionals, the team will provide interactive autism awareness and reasonable adjustments training to our Trust's mental healthcare professionals. Experts by experience contribute to the development and provision of the training, to ensure the voices and experiences of an autistic person are heard.

Who is our service for?

Our service is for mental health professionals. If you would like more information about the course or want to ask about our bespoke training offer, please complete our online form

For more information, email: autism.training@merseycare.nhs.uk