Supporting autistic young people to live their best lives

A new Wellbeing Hub has been launched by the Centre for Autism, aimed at offering autistic young people and their families the support that is most meaningful to them.

The public-facing Centre for Autism, an independent centre based at our School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, launched the new Wellbeing Hub on Thursday (9 November) with an event in Palmer building.

The launch of the Wellbeing Hub was made possible thanks to generous legacy donations via our Fundraising team, which also means the valuable services can be made available free of charge or at a very low cost.

The Hub aims to create an inclusive community where autistic young people, their families, and supporting professionals can engage in meaningful collaboration focused on the idea of autistic thriving. Activities will be co-produced and delivered by University experts, underpinned by our commitment to research and the development of evidence-based practices.

A whole family approach

The aims of the Hub were developed over the past year with autistic young people and their families, through a scoping study to identify how to best meet their needs. This study also involved consultation with colleagues in local education and health services to establish what autism-specific support is currently available and where gaps may exist. 

Autistic young people involved in the scoping study said they valued support for their autonomy, as well as understanding and acceptance of their authentic identity.

Parents told us that they needed more guidance and long-term support to develop the parenting styles their children valued most, and to support their children’s mental wellbeing, particularly in terms of anxiety.

Alongside the activities, a pilot programme is therefore being developed to provide neurodiversity-affirming parent support which is personalised, parent-centred and accessible beyond the initial post-diagnostic period. An anxiety programme will also be developed to be delivered to families and education professionals.

Training tomorrow’s clinicians

The Wellbeing Hub will also make an important contribution towards the development of future clinicians, educators and researchers working with autistic people and their families.

Student work experience placements will be a key component, with around 12 MSc students undertaking placements each year. They will be supervised by qualified clinicians and receive valuable practical experience.