Autism Spectrum Condition

Tell me about autism and services and support groups for children and adults with autism and their carers.

  • What is Autism?

    • Everyone who has an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) or Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is different.  Their individual challenges and needs, and the level of support they require, will vary greatly.
    • If you've met one person with Autism, you've only met one person with Autism.
    • Each individual will have different and specific challenges, but there are a number of areas in which many people with an ASC are likely to have some degree of difficulty.  These include:
      • Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.
      • Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities 
      • Social communication and social interaction

  • Who is affected by Autism and what is the cause?

    • Who is affected by autism?
      • There are around 700,000 people in the UK on the autism spectrum.
      • People of all nationalities and cultural, religious and social backgrounds can have autism.
      • We do not currently have reliable data on how many people are autistic in Guernsey, however, it is likely to be similar to figures from the UK, of more than 1 in 100 people.  
      • Currently, more males are diagnosed than females. Female autistic presentation tends to be more subtle. 
      • It is a lifelong condition and children with autism grow up to be adults with autism.
    • What causes autism?
      • The exact cause of autism is unknown although there appears to be genetic factors. Read more about causes of autism here on the NAS website: The causes of autism 

  • Who do I talk to?

  • How do I get a diagnosis?

    • For a child:
      • For children from birth until they start school: Your GP or Health Visitor may refer your child to the Child Development Centre (CDC). The CDC will talk to you and assess your child through a multi-agency panel so that your child's assessment is thorough and the team have the right information they need. More information can be found here. Child Development Service (CDS)
      • For children who are at school a referral is made to the Autism Diagnostic Service. Referrals are made by the SeNCO who collates the information from parents, school and other professionals.
      • Home-educated children are referred in via Autism Guernsey. The team currently has a lengthy waiting list.  
    • For an adult:
      • A referral is made usually by your GP to the Adult Disability Service for an assessment.
      • Currently access to the Adult Autism Assessment Team is limited to those already in receipt of Adult Disability Services, or under the care of Specialist Mental Health Services 
      • There is currently no universal pathway for adult autism assessment. This is being looked at as part of the work of The Autism Steering Group within HSC.  

  • What happens after I have a diagnosis?

    • For children:
    • You may be referred to the following areas for support:
      • Autism Guernsey. Contact by phone: 01481 245272 or email: office@autismguernsey.org.gg
      • National Autistic Society (Guernsey Branch). Contact by phone: 01481 246025 or email info@nasguernsey.com
      • In Education the School Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) should initially be contacted
      • Support may be available from the Communication and Autism Support Services (CASS) 01481 228310
      • There are Primary and Secondary Communications Bases in mainstream schools with a Specialist Teacher providing support for learning and life skills that may be appropriate. graham.fisher@education.gg
      • College of Further Education also offers support to students as required
      • For Pre- School children parents are offered access to the EarlyBird Scheme.
    • For adults:
    • You may be referred to the following areas for support:

  • Are there any benefits I may be entitled to?

    • There may be financial support that you are entitled to. Please see the financial support section.

  • Is there any support available for me to be able to access paid employment?

    • In preparation for work students may have enhanced additional support for work experience in Year 10.
    • There are a nuber of agencies and initiatives that can help you into work. Please see the support into employment section.

  • If I need a short break is there anywhere I can go?

    • For children:
      • The Croft offers residential and outreach short breaks for children with autism and a learning disability. find more information here The Croft
    • For adults:
      • Residential and outreach short breaks are available if an individual has autism and alearning disability if an individual is assessed to meet the threshold to access this service. See here for more information https://www.gov.gg/adultdisabilityservices

  • Tell me what support groups are available and how to get in touch with them.

  • What happens as I reach 18 years of age and begin to transfer to adult services?

    • Each of the services you are working with will talk to you about transferring services from children to adult services. This will happen at different times for each service.
    • If you are unsure what will happen to you as you are reaching the age of 18 years have a conversation with the person you are seeing in a particular service and ask them about transfer arrangements. Find more information about transition here.