Challenges getting a diagnosis - some participants considered levels of understanding of autism to be lower in their communities, which may have delayed a diagnosis. Others said that teachers can fail to spot characteristics of autism due to incorrect assumptions about a child’s behaviour or language abilities.

Barriers to accessing support services - parents talked about challenges understanding autism and knowing what services are available due to information often only being available in English, few translation services and professionals’ use of jargon.

Communication problems with professionals - some families said they didn’t feel confident dealing with professionals or they felt professionals could be patronising or lacking in cultural understanding. Others said some people from BAME communities could hold suspicious attitudes towards professionals and authorities.

Awareness and understanding of autism within communities - close communities can be an important source of support for people, but many participants reported coming across judgemental attitudes. Our charity was told that disability can be stigmatised in certain communities and sometimes blamed on parents. While some participants emphasised that their faith gave them strength, others spoke about a lack of support from faith groups and at places of worship.

Denial and isolation - some families said they initially refused to acknowledge that their child was autistic. Others believed that their child’s difficulties should remain private and not be discussed outside the home. Along with feelings of blame and shame, many said that these issues could lead to parents, carers and siblings missing out on support and becoming socially isolated.