As a parent or carer, it can be frustrating to come up against barriers, when you are trying to achieve better outcomes for your autistic young person or adult. Perhaps there is lack of understanding from school, or you’re not getting the right support from healthcare professionals or employers. 

When this happens, it’s important to know that you’re not alone and that there are many organisations and services that can help. We’ve provided links to websites that offer useful information on different topics at the bottom of this page. 

It’s also useful to make yourself familiar with legal rights and entitlements, so that you can advocate for your autistic young person or adult as effectively as possible. Important pieces of legislation to be aware of are:

• the Equality Act 2010, which protects all adults from discrimination in the workplace and wider society

• the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2014, which apply to children and also young adults aged from 18 to 25 with special educational needs

• the Care Act 2014, which focuses on the care and support of adults with eligible needs.

• the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which applies to everyone from the age of 16 around their ability to make decisions for themselves.

• the Autism Act 2009, which ensures the government writes and reviews an autism strategy every five years.

• the Health and Care Act 2022, which includes the requirement for healthcare providers to complete mandatory training about Learning Disability and Autism.