Useful links, resources and signposts
Are you an autistic adult looking for support or information?
In my experience most support for autistic people is centred on children and parents. There seems to be very little available for autistic adults, especially those diagnosed later in life (perhaps because it’s often assumed that we are able to cope without help after dealing alone with undiagnosed autism for many years).
This is something it’s my mission to help to change.
So I focus here on services and information relevant to autistic women/adults. And as I’m based in the UK, I focus mainly on groups and organisations that are UK based. But if you know of any groups or organisations in other parts of the world that support autistic adults, please get in touch and tell me about them!
Disclaimer: I have no direct experience of the organisations listed on this page, and their inclusion on this page does imply a recommendation. Viewers of this page are advised to do their own due diligence and research.
If you think you might be autistic…
You can find information about the diagnostic criteria for autism here (this is from the UK’s National Autistic Society).
The ‘Aspie Quiz’ test has been around for a while – I think I first took it in around 2007. Don’t be put off by the name (I wish they’d change it though!) While it won’t give you a definitive answer, it will give you an indication of whether or not you are likely to be autistic. It’s free.
Another free online testing tool is this one: the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) test. It’s much quicker than the ‘Aspie Quiz’ test above, with only 50 questions (compared to 121 in the ‘Aspie Quiz’).
Also, Embrace Autism has a pretty comprehensive list of tests that is worth checking out!
If you want to find out about getting an adult autism diagnosis:
I wrote this post about getting an NHS assessment in the UK.
Take a look at this information from the NHS.
This information from the National Autistic Society is really helpful and goes into more detail.
Disclaimer: I have no direct experience of the organisations listed here and their inclusion on this page does imply a recommendation. Viewers of this page are advised to do their own due diligence and research.
Adult Autism is a diagnostic service based in Ireland. Their team of neurodiversity affirmative psychologists works with people across the UK, Ireland and Europe. In addition to full autism assessments, they also provide Psychology Consultations if you are not be sure about whether you want to go ahead with a full autism assessment but would like to talk it all through with someone.
Sarah Hendrickx and the team at Hendrickx Associates, a company in East Sussex, UK, offer private, non-clinical adult assessments and autism coaching. Sarah is well known on YouTube and is autistic herself.
The Lorna Wing Centres are run by the National Autistic Society in the UK and offer a range of specialist diagnostic and assessment services for children, young people and adults. Self-referrals can be self-funded or paid for by a private healthcare provider with their agreement. **As of January 2024 The NAS Lorna Wing Centre is accepting referrals for children, young people and adults. You can fill in their enquiry form here.**
Psicon (based in Kent, UK) offers a comprehensive diagnostic assessment service of Autistic Spectrum Conditions for those aged 16 and over.
RTN Mental Health (registered address in London, UK), offer a full autism diagnostic assessment and I’ve seen some positive feedback about them on Twitter.
Neuroclastic has compiled this list of diagnosticians who diagnose adults, covering (at the time of writing) the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Africa.
NeuroSpark Health (based in the US) offer neuro-affirming autism assessments and ADHD assessments for adults 18+ living in (at time of writing) Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Project 39 was my original blog, in which I wrote about my experience of seeking (and receiving) an autisim diagnosis when I was in my 30s. You can read the blog here.
Dr Emma Colvert and Dr Victoria Milner – autism screening and assessment provider (as seen on the Christine McGuinness BBC programme)
For those in Wales, these resources might be helpful:
If you live in Cardiff or the Vale and want to go down the NHS route, you can ask your GP to refer you to the Integrated Autism Service (Cardiff and Vale University Health Board) using the referral form on this page (see the form link and instructions at the bottom of the page). **Waiting list around 2 years as of January 2024.
The Autism Service has a team in Cardiff that works with children and adults to privately assess and diagnose autism. Initial consultation, diagnostic assessment and support. **Disclaimer: I have not spoken to anyone who has used this service, and they use person-first language (‘person with autism’) and ‘ASD’ frequently on their website, which might be offputting to some self identified autistic adults.
Autistic therapists, mentors and coaches
Disclaimer: I have no direct experience of the organisations listed here and their inclusion on this page does imply a recommendation. Viewers of this page are advised to do their own due diligence and research.
Counsellors and therapists
Max Marnau – autistic counsellor (Scotland, UK)
Audrey Mitchell – autistic counsellor (Boise, Idaho, USA) *NOT ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS AT THIS TIME*
Rebecca Kerl – autistic counsellor (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)
Hendrickx Associates – Private autism mentoring and coaching covering a range of topics including relationships, education, coming to terms with a diagnosis, employment, and support for family members and spouses of autistic people (UK based).
Dr Megan Anna Neff – neurodivergent and autistic Clinical Psychologist and mental health clinician (Portland, Oregon, USA)
Neurodivergent Practitioners [counsellors/therapists] – A worldwide searchable directory of Neurodivergent, neuro-affirmative counsellors and therapists.
Neurodivergent Therapists – directory created to help neurodivergent clients find neurodivergent therapists. All providers on the directory identify as neurodivergent.
And if you are an autistic psychotherapist or counsellor and would like to join an online professional community of autistic therapists, here is the link to Max Marnau’s Facebook group.
Coaches and mentors
Jo Casey – autistic business coach (Kington, Herefordshire, UK)
NeuroSpark Health (based in the US) offer coaching and disability accommodations assistance for adults 18+.
Neurodivergent Practitioners [coaches] – worldwide searchable directory of Neurodivergent, neuro-affirmative coaches.
Gillian Higgin – neurodivergent coach and consultant (UK)
Facebook groups
Autism Late Diagnosis/Self-Identification Support and Education
British Women & Non Binary Autistics – ASD, ASCs and Aspergers
UK Autistic Women’s Support Group
Autistic Women+ Living Authentically
Autistic Women/Non Binary Folk Talk World News & Politics
Autistic Counsellors and Psychotherapists
This is run by Max Marnau, who I interviewed for episode 19
Colouring Outside The Lines (ND-affirming group for parents of autistic daughters)
This is run by Gemma Gray, who I interviewed for episode 109
UK organisations
National Autistic Society
Autism diagnosis for adults – the benefits and the process
Information about employment for autistic adults.
Autism Initiatives
Unique services for people to enable them to have ownership of their own lives and future.
NHS
Guidance around diagnosis and signposts to support from the NHS
Autism Wales
Information about Autism Spectrum Disorders (including Autism and Asperger Syndrome), service details, training opportunities and updates on the implementation of the ASD Strategic Action Plan for Wales.
Mental Health Foundation
Resources on Autism and mental health.
Oliver’s Campaign
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (OMMT) has been designed alongside Learning disabled and/or autistic people to meet the change in law in 2022.
The PDA Society
The PDA Society is the only specialist PDA charity in the UK, with all of the staff having a personal connection with PDA. They believe that happy, autonomous lives are possible.
Spectrum Theatre Sheffield
Together, its members have a range of experience of the autistic spectrum and of theatre work. It’s ‘integrated’ – some members are on the spectrum, some aren’t, some are younger, some are older, some very experienced in theatre, some less so.
Organisations outside the UK
Autism Career Pathways
Career and employment for autistic adults – California, USA.
https://www.autismcareerpathways.org/
All Brains Belong
Neuroinclusive healthcare – Montpelier, Vermont, USA.
https://allbrainsbelong.org
Bridges Family Life Center
Black, multigenerational family-owned and operated Christian organization, offering neurodiversity affirming therapy– North Carolina, USA.
https://www.bridgesflc.com
The Color of Autism Foundation
Connecting families to trauma-informed and culturally competent support- USA.
https://thecolorofautism.org/
Autastic
Resources and community for last-identified people of colour and allies- USA.
https://www.autastic.com
The Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)
Providing neurodivergent individuals, families, and professionals with education, community and support, in an inclusive atmosphere of validation and respect.– Boston, USA.
https://www.aane.org
Different Brains
A nonprofit that strives to encourage understanding & acceptance of neurodiversity. – Fort Lauderdale, USA.
https://www.differentbrains.org
Washington Autism Alliance
Expanding access to healthcare, education and services for autistic people in Washington State.– Washington, USA.
https://www.washingtonautismalliance.org
Resources*
Samantha Craft’s Autistic Traits Checklist and Ten Traits
“We are ourselves and we aren’t ourselves. Between imitating others and copying the ways of the world, and trying to be honest, and having no choice but to be ‘real,’ we find ourselves trapped between pretending to be normal and showing all our cards.”
Understanding the Spectrum
A comic strip explanation
The Best Books About Autism by Autistic Women (Conscious Life)
“These are books by Autistic women, about being an Autistic woman, as selected by an Autistic woman.”
Why It’s Hard to Switch Tasks
A comic strip explanation
Spectrum (online autism magazine, since 2008 and now called The Transmitter)
“Comprehensive news and analysis of advances in autism research.”
Articles you might find interesting*
BPD and finding hope from autism self-discovery (National Survivor User Network, 2024) Includes pointers for people with a historic diagnosis of BPD who believe they may be autistic. “Trauma, neurodivergence or mood disorder could explain all of the symptoms classified as EUPD, but we are saddled instead with a label used to denigrate vulnerable and traumatised people. The Neurodiversity movement offers a far more positive and affirming way of explaining differences.”
Research on experiences of menopause and midlife (Rose J Matthews et al, Sage Journals, 2024)
“Previous studies report that menopause can be a very difficult transition for some autistic people. This study focuses on how autistic people experience menopause and what support and information might help them. Autistic Community Research Associates played an important role in the research and co-authored this article.”
>>> I inteviewed Rose Matthews on the podcast – Season 9, Ep12 (episode 117)
10 Significant Ways Autistic People are Different to Neurotypical People (Mollie Pittaway, Artfully Autistic, June 2023)
“If you’re an autistic person looking for some insight on what sets you apart from neurotypical people, here are 10 ways autistic people are different to NT people.”
Top 10 Reasons Why INFJs Are Walking Paradoxes (Deborah Ward, Introvert Dear, November 2021)
“INFJs are walking, talking contradictions. As introverts who want to help people, and feelers who love logic, they can seem confusing, even to themselves.”
>>> Not strictly about autism, but indulge me – as an INFJ this article was like looking in a mirror! Anecdotally it seems that many more autistic people are INFJ than the general population, so you might find that this resonates!
Face blindness (Bernard Grant, Specialisterne, November 2021)
“Those of us who are ignorant about faces may seem careless, absentminded, or aloof, though many of us struggle with social anxiety.”
>>> I interviewed Bernard on the podcast – Series 3, Ep9 (episode 40)
Autigender and Neuroqueer: Two Words on the Relationship Between Autism and Gender That Fit Me (Ryan Boren, April 2021)
“Autigender is not saying that “My gender is autism” – it’s not about saying you are a boy, girl, enby, autism, whatever. It’s about your relationship with your gender.”
“You don’t look autistic” – coming out as an autistic therapist (Max Marnau, Counselling Directory, October 2020)
“The stereotype says that autistic people lack empathy, theory of mind and the capacity for self-reflection, so how can that be? Well, it may just be that, like so many stereotypes, it contains a grain of truth and no more.”
>>> I interviewed Max on the podcast – Series 2, Ep7 (episode 19)
Research on facial expressions challenges the way we think about autism (Connor Tom Keating and Jennifer Cook, The Conversation, April 2020)
“Autism researchers are starting to think that autistic and non-autistic faces may “speak a different language” when conveying emotion. It means we may need to re-think the idea that autistic people have difficulties with expressing their emotions and instead consider that non-autistic people may have trouble reading them.”
“Is my autism a superpower?” (The Guardian, November 2019)
“Are those of us with autistic spectrum conditions disabled or different? Are we, by definition, deficient human beings, or are there compensations that come with our condition? Are there any circumstances in which autism could be considered, not merely an acceptable difference, but a superpower?”
‘It’s a spectrum’ doesn’t mean what you think (Neuroclastic, May 2019)
“For seventy years (at least), people have been making assumptions about autistic people based on outward behaviour. Even the diagnostic criteria for autism is based on what is easily observable by an onlooker. They think that the stranger we act, the “more autistic” we are.”
Go, Greta. Autism is my superpower too (Jack Monroe, The Observer, April 2019)
“There is clearly something about bold, neurodivergent women and girls that prompts powerful men to scrape the sides of their own putrid barrels of opinion to attack this “terrifying” otherness.”
Different for girls: understanding autism (The Guardian, April 2019)
“While a “hot topic” in research circles, the fact that women and girls can even be autistic is still a surprise to many non-specialists.”
Is autism being missed among women and girls? (BBC World Service, April 2019)
“Autistic girls and women may go undiagnosed because doctors, teachers and parents often think of the condition as primarily affecting boys.”
Why neurodiversity needs recognition (The Telegraph, March 2019)
“We know that neurodiversity is an asset – quite literally thinking differently helps companies perform better. It is the responsibility of these leaders to put neurodiversity on their own personal and professional to-do lists.”
The costs of camouflaging autism (Spectrum News, February 2018)
“Many girls hide their autism, sometimes evading diagnosis well into adulthood. These efforts can help women on the spectrum socially and professionally, but they can also do serious harm.”
New Research Suggests Social Issues are Down to Neurotypicals more than Autistics (Critical Neurodiversity, November 2017)
“The empathy problem goes both ways, not to mention that this happens in the context of pervasive ableist norms and attitudes that seek to alter rather than accommodate autistic being.”
Autism – It’s Different in Girls (Scientific American, March 2016)
“New research suggests the disorder often looks different in females, many of whom are being misdiagnosed and missing out on the support they need.”
Female Autism: Is it Different and What Should I Look Out For? (Hub, January 2016)
“Despite there being no clear-cut reason why women are less likely to be affected by autism than men, the research presents us with a number of ideas that could help us to understand why women with the condition are less likely to be diagnosed…”
Autism as an adult (The Guardian, Sept 2015)
“That none of us wake up cured at 18 still appears to mystify some professionals.”
Autism blogs*
Just a Square Peg Blog (the name is a coincidence – great minds etc.)
“This blog started because I wanted to share the good, the bad and the funny about living with BPD. However, thanks to currently living in diagnosis limbo, I am now sharing my journey to an autism diagnosis.”
>>> I interviewed Beth on the podcast – Series 2, Ep9 (episode 21)
What’s the time confessional
“Gender, sexuality, mental health and being autistic.”
>>> I interviewed Ella on the podcast – Series 2, Ep4 (episode 16)
Autistically Sarah
“My thoughts on education, recognising the true extent of my neurodivergence in my 20s, and how the two can intersect.”
>>> I interviewed Sarah on the podcast – Series 1, Ep10 (episode 10)
Neuroclastic (online magazine, since 2018 – formerly The Aspergian)
“A collective of neurodivergents cataloguing the experience, insights, knowledge, talents, and creative pursuits of autistics.”
Musings of an Aspie (personal blog, 2012-2015)
“Aspies are often labelled high functioning by default. Some people even seem to think it’s a compliment.”
* The websites linked from this page are not under the control of SquarePeg. I have no control over the nature, content or availability of these sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation, or endorse the views expressed within them.
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