Support for people with Autism 

Where to find advice and support for autistic people, and information on plans and the Autism Forum.

Autism is a lifelong condition that affects how a person communicates with and relates to others.

The National Autistic Society website has information on:

• what autism is
• diagnosing autism

Support for adults with autism

The Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS) offers support and advice for adults with autism about:

• housing
• education
• relationships
• job coaching

They meet every Friday from 12.30pm to 4.30pm at the Create Centre, B Bond, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN.

You can:

• drop in for the advice service 
• book a one to one session with a member of the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service team for help with a specific issue

They run support group.

To find out more:

• visit the BASS website
• call 01275 796200 
• email awp.bass@nhs.net

Support for carers of adults with autism

Find information about support for carers on our carers page.

The National Autistic Society Avon branch offers support to carers of adults with autism.

Support for children and young people with autism

We have a range of services that support children and young people with autism and their parents. 

Find out more on the: 

• Disabled Children's Services page 
• Bristol SEND Local Offer page

The National Autistic Society Bristol branch offers support to parents or carers of children with autism.

What we need to do and change

We're working in partnership with autistic people and others in Bristol to understand what we need to do and change.

To do this we are working through:

• the Bristol Autism Strategy
• the Bristol Autism Forum

Bristol Autism Forum

The Bristol Autism Forum oversees the how the Bristol Autism Strategy is carried out and gives autistic people a chance to have a say. It reports to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The forum members include:

• people with autism
• carers of people with autism
• clinicians 
• practitioners who work with people with autism
• commissioners from the council and NHS

To join the Bristol Autism Forum or find out more, email autism.forum@bristol.gov.uk.

Bristol Autism Forum terms of reference (pdf, 50KB) (opens new window)

Forum meeting dates

The next meeting dates will be arranged soon.

Minutes from the Autism Forum meetings

• Bristol Autism Forum minutes 6 November 2020 (pdf, 490KB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Autism Forum minutes 15 November 2019 (pdf, 87KB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Autism Forum draft minutes 7 February 2019 (pdf, 133KB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Autism Forum minutes 6 November 2018  (pdf, 120KB) (opens new window)