Skip to content

The East Sussex Local Offer uses some essential and optional cookies. We’d like to set some optional cookies to help us understand how people use the site and to make improvements. To find out more, read about our cookies.

Clicking the speaker symbol next to words on this site will allow them to be read out loud. Please note, this site is only one part of the Local Offer. We also have a directory which you can visit at 1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/localoffer

Autism and Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)

Six parents with three children all sat on chairs around a desk.

Overview

Autism / Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) is something some people are born with. It is a lifelong neurological spectrum condition that means their brain works in a different way from other people. This means that people with autism experience the world in different ways. They may find some difficulty with some or all of the below:

They may also have an associated learning difficulty.

People with autism may have differences in their attention, interests and how they learn. This can include being very focused on particular interests. They can have a different way of being flexible. They can often feel safer and more comfortable with routines and structure as this lessens uncertainty.

People with autism all have very different experiences and needs as well as different strengths. Some of these strengths could be:

While people with autism share similar characteristics to some degree, they can also be different from each other. This is because autism is considered a spectrum. The autism spectrum is not linear from high to low but varies in every way that one person might vary from another.

There is no ‘typical’ person with autism. Every individual with autism has their own:

You can watch a 4-minute, Amazing Things Can Happen video on YouTube. The video explains some aspects of autism:

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is as a way of describing a range of anxiety-driven behaviours. This is where a child or young person often seeks to avoid every day, seemingly reasonable requests because they trigger anxiety.

PDA does not appear as a separate diagnostic condition. This is the case with national and international recognised diagnostic manuals. For this reason, NHS professionals in East Sussex do not make this separate diagnosis. However, for a child who has been assessed as being on the autism spectrum and presents with a PDA profile, this will be recognised and described within the child’s assessment report and diagnosis.

Diagnosing Autism

The NHS website outlines the steps taken in diagnosing autism. It also explains what happens during an assessment:

Waiting for an Autism Assessment or Diagnosis

Assessment and diagnosis of autism can include a long wait. It can take years to receive an assessment in East Sussex.

During this time, your child may still need support. 

Your child should receive support in their education setting based on their experiences and needs. They do not need a diagnosis for this support and it does not change during the wait for assessment.

Support for your child should be ongoing and include The Graduated Approach (Assess, Plan, Do, Review).

We have created a document that brings the contact information for a range of support services together in one place. It highlights common areas of concern you may have about your child’s health and wellbeing as they grow up:

Your child does not need a diagnosis or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to access the services in this document. These services are open to you before, during and after an assessment of needs.

The NHS offer social communication and neurodevelopment support. This is for children and young people with Autism or ADHD. The child or young person does not need to have a diagnosis to access support from this pathway. 

This is a multi-disciplinary pathway. It involves Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. It also includes a skill mix of therapists and integrated therapy assistants.

They deliver provision within this pathway across:

Children and young people can access this pathway from 3 years old to 18 years old (or up to 19 if in full time education).

You can visit the NHS East Sussex Children website to find out more:

Additional Help and Support

Amaze Face 2 Face

Amaze are a local charity that support families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Amaze Face 2 Face runs: 

You can find out more by visiting the Amaze website:

Amaze also have a face sheet of information relating to autism that parents and carers can read online:

Neurodevelopmental Pathway (NDP) Family Training and Navigation Service

Amaze also offer the NDP Family Training and Navigation Service. This service supports families at each stage along the neurodevelopmental pathway. They help to manage the challenges that children and young people face. This service is for families in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.

The conditions covered by the NDP in East Sussex include:

Please visit the Amaze website to find out more:

CLASS+

CLASS+ works across East Sussex to support families/carers of Autistic children and young people. They provide guidance and training. This aims to enable families/carers to build their understanding of the strengths and challenges faced by Autistic children and young people. It also aims to develop greater confidence in how to support them:

Spectrum

Spectrum is a free, county-wide service. It helps Autistic children and young people ‘aged 5–18’ to join in activities in their local community. It also allows them to develop their independence and build confidence in developing key life skills:

Amaze SENDIASS

Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) are a local charity. They offer free, independent, and impartial advice for all matters relating to SEND. This includes Autism. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:

Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.

East Sussex Local Offer directory of services

You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:

Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.

NHS - Health A to Z

The East Sussex Local Offer aims to provide as much information as possible. There may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions. These pages provide information and advice on how to get extra support:

Visit the NHS Health A to Z web page.

Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms

We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.

Get in touch