When writing and talking about autism, we have used the language guidelines set out by the National Autistic Society. These guidelines are based on their research into the preferences of autistic people, their families, and professionals. This research showed that identity-first language, such as "autistic person/child", was preferred over person-first language, such as "person/child with autism".
The National Autistic Society's guidelines for talking and writing about autism can be explored in full here.
Everyone is different and may have their own preferences on the language they feel comfortable with. If you are talking with or writing about an individual, ask them what language they would like to use.
Please enter a search term
Caring for an autistic child
Around 700,000 people in the UK have an autism diagnosis, meaning that over 2.8 million people have a family member on the autism spectrum. It’s a lifelong condition that affects how people interact with others, and its impact may depend on where the person sits on the spectrum.
The National Autistic Society defines autism as a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people and how they experience the world around them.
Taking care of any child, whether they are on the autism spectrum or not, will bring both its challenges and rewards. There is lots of support out there, including specific support for autistic children and those who care for them:
- The NHS website has a helpful directory of autism support, including national charities and forums.
- You might want to join local support groups for autism, such as those listed by The National Autistic Society and Autism Central, or your local authority may have its own support groups.
- There are also other organisations that provide support to families, offer training, and provide activities and events in a supportive environment.
We have also created the following group of resources to support you.
