Post-diagnostic support information

Staff from Somerset Autism Spectrum Service (SASS) are available to offer a one-off 1:1 consultation. This is typically offered online; however, an in-person appointment may be offered if criteria is met.

Topics of discussion during post-diagnostic consultations may include:

• Your diagnosis and what this means for you.
• Wellbeing and Mental Health
• Work or Education
• Daily Activities and Home Management
• Interests and Future Goals
• Current Support or Difficulties
• Accommodation
• Post-diagnostic support options
• Signposting and Onward Referrals

To arrange an appointment, we require a copy of your formal diagnostic report (if you have been assessed by us previously, we will already have a copy), and a post-diagnostic referral from your GP or another healthcare professional.

Please note, we cannot offer ongoing support, key workers or sensory assessments.

This takes place on the first Wednesday of every month between 1pm-2.30pm via Microsoft Teams. The group is an opportunity to meet informally with other autistic adults to share ideas and experiences, with an agreed topic for discussion each month. There is no expectation to participate if you do not wish to; you can simply listen or use the chat function if you prefer.

This group is held weekly from 3-5pm every Wednesday afternoon from Glanville House, Bridgwater. It is an opportunity to meet other autistic adults, socialise, and play a variety of board and card games. You may bring somebody with you for support if you wish. Members may bring their own games to share with the group. It might be possible for transport to and from Glanville House to be arranged if criteria for this service is met. This can be discussed with a team member at SASS. A member of the SASS team will be present at the group, and we will try to offer reasonable adjustments for attending, such as arriving early for the first attendance or being met in the car park rather than the waiting room.

This group is attended by autistic adults and staff from SASS. It is a space to share ideas and develop projects to positively shape the experiences of autistic people accessing services. A core value of the group is to influence positive change and to see ideas through to production. The group agrees current and future priorities, and is held online via Microsoft Teams once a month, typically on either a Tuesday or Thursday.

Examples of co-produced projects include:

• Co-producing and delivering training to other services in Somerset
• Advocating for reasonable adjustments
• Helping services make appropriate reasonable adjustments
• Reviewing the autism service referral form
• Quarterly co-produced service development meetings

Autism passports are short documents designed for autistic people who may find it difficult to express their needs in healthcare appointments, meetings, interviews, and other scenarios. The document comes as an empty template for you to fill in information about your sensory, emotional, communication and support needs. Small adjustments can make an enormous difference.

Staff at SASS are able to help with completing your autism passport if you require support.

Please download a copy of the autism passport here.

This letter can be written by SASS on your behalf for you to share with any employers, educators, or other professionals that you feel it would be useful. The letter outlines what autism is, what reasonable adjustments may be useful for you, and advises others as to how they can make these adjustments to support you.

This letter is a short statement to whomever it may concern to confirm that you have received an autism diagnosis, without sharing details of your assessment. These letters may be particularly useful for funding applications or anytime you need to evidence a formal diagnosis.

On YouTube there are several videos made by experts by experience to raise awareness of autism and help autistic people access NHS services. Videos cover topics including:

• Before and during the autism diagnostic process
• Getting the diagnosis
• What is good about being autistic
• Some of our interests
• Autistic people’s experience of using NHS services
• Autistic people’s experiences of reasonable adjustments NHS services have or have not made
• Reasonable adjustments NHS services can make for autistic people

To access the videos, please follow the link: Autism Awareness – YouTube

Sunflower lanyards are a discreet sign that the wearer may need additional support that might not be obvious by looking at them. You may request a sunflower lanyard from SASS if you wish.

The National Autistic Society has an ‘I am Autistic Card’ that may help you to let people know that you are autistic and that you might need some extra time or help in certain situations. You can download the card by following the link below:

I Am Autistic Card

If you have a post-diagnostic referral open to SASS, we may be able to support you with onward referrals to other services where appropriate. This may include services such as Open Mental Health, Employment Support Service, and Somerset Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Service (SAAS).

We are happy to be contacted with queries and will do our best to answer questions or signpost to relevant services who may be able to help.

We can also be contacted by other staff within Somerset Foundation Trust for support and advise on reasonable adjustments and working with autistic adults.