To do this, it is important for us to ensure all our information about autistic people:

• is developed by and with autistic people
• is based on quality evidence from lived experience (the personal accounts of autistic people), research and professional practice
• clearly describes the core characteristics, highlighting common strengths and challenges
• explains common access requirements and how they can be accommodated throughout all stages of life
• is unbiased and challenges stereotypes, stigma and misinformation
• uses language that is inclusive and respectful
• outlines the differing and sometimes conflicting views on a topic
• is shared on our website and social media, promoting understanding of autism globally.

How we choose the topics

The selection of topics for new and updated advice and guidance pages is decided by a committee of senior leaders from all areas of the charity, including autistic people, chaired by our Chief Executive.
 

How we review the evidence

Once a topic has been selected, analysts in our Evidence and Research department gather insight and information from three types of sources: research papers published in academic journals; professional practice literature created or used by healthcare professionals; and lived experience sources – that is, content created by autistic people and their families, such as blog posts and videos.

Each evidence source is summarised in a report known as an Evidence Review, and the quality of the source is reviewed against quality criteria. Considering all the evidence found on a topic, and the relative quality of each source, the Evidence and Research team draft a full Evidence Review of the best available knowledge on a topic and its sub-topics. This draft is sent to internal and external experts on the topic (either by lived experience or profession) for their comments in a peer review process.

Once feedback from these experts has been considered, a final version of the Evidence Review is completed. This document becomes an internal resource accessible to all NAS staff and is used in the development of our training courses as well as drafting the advice and guidance web pages.
 

How we create new advice and guidance pages

After our Evidence and Research department have completed the final version of an Evidence Review, it is used to draft one or more advice and guidance web pages on the topic. A copywriter uses the Evidence Review to identify the key information and insight and considers how to structure it in a useful and accessible way for autistic people, their families, community and healthcare professionals. The draft web page is reviewed by the Evidence and Research department to ensure it is consistent with the conclusions of the Evidence Review and any amendments are made before the page is published on our website.

Advice and guidance pages usually start with a basic introduction to the topic, followed by more detailed sections on key issues, sections exploring self-management and support strategies, where these are relevant, and a section of insight quoted directly from autistic people and families. At the end of each advice and guidance page you will find links to relevant NAS services, helpful content from public bodies such as the NHS and other relevant organisations and charities, and a list of all the sources gathered and assessed as part of the evidence review process for the topic. 

There may also be related links to other advice and guidance pages and professional practice articles published on our website.
 

How you can give feedback

Each advice and guidance page has a feedback box at the bottom of the page. We welcome your thoughts on the topic and the content of the page, including if there are topics or subtopics you think we have missed. However, please be aware that this feedback box is not a way to request personalised support and we cannot respond to individual comments.

Feedback responses are monitored periodically and help to inform the planning of future updates to our advice and guidance pages.
 

When the pages are updated

Our advice and guidance pages are part of a cyclical process of review in which each page is reviewed at least every three years. However, pages may be reviewed earlier if they are prioritised by the committee, which may happen because the information is known or anticipated to change more regularly, or new evidence emerges that changes our understanding of a topic.
 

Our advice and guidance process in summary

The key stages of our advice and guidance process are:

• topics are prioritised by a committee of senior leaders, including autistic people
• the Evidence and Research department gather evidence on a topic and assess its quality, producing a draft Evidence Review document, or series of documents, on a topic
• internal and external experts review the draft Evidence Review and give their feedback
• a final draft of the Evidence Review is completed and becomes available to all National Autistic Society staff
•  an advice and guidance web page or pages are drafted based on the Evidence Review
• the Evidence and Research department review the web page or pages to ensure consistency with the Evidence Review before publication
• feedback on published web pages is gathered for consideration during the next update
• topics are reviewed on a three-year cycle, unless prioritised earlier by the committee.

Please note that not all our advice and guidance pages were created through this process. Some pages are older and are scheduled to be updated to bring them in line with our current process.