Service categories: Information, advice and advocacy

Service URL: https://autismhub.kids.org.uk/

Secondary URL: https://autismhub.kids.org.uk/

Autism friendly award URL: https://autismhub.kids.org.uk/

The Essex Kids Autism Hub is for young people aged 12 – 25 who are newly diagnosed with autism, young people who are on the diagnosis pathway, and the family members of those young people.

To access the Autism Hub you have to be referred by an autism professional in Essex in the NHS or education. If you are being assessed for autism your NHS team can refer you.

The service will help you and your family understand more about autism and the different ways autism can affect different people.

 The Autism Hub is a website that has two portals: one for autistic young people and one for parent/carers. There are a range of topics linked to autism covered in each portal.

Autism Guides

Bite-size information on a wide range of topics to help you to understand autism and find strategies that work for you.

Personal stories

Video interviews and stories featuring young autistic people and their parents discussing their own experiences of autism and offering their advice on how they've made it work for them.

Support groups

Weekly online groups where you can learn more about autism, ask questions, and hear the experiences of other people including the Kids professionals who are all experts by experience. Each week a different topic is discussed and information is given. Topics have been chosen and will carry on being chosen by people who use our Autism Hub...so we find out what you want to learn more about and we help you to understand that topic in more detail.

Directory

Pointers to a range of high-quality autism services across Essex, Southend, and Thurrock who can help with your individual needs.

The Kids Autism Hub has been commissioned by the NHS in Essex. The three NHS Integrated Care Boards that cover Essex, Southend, and Thurrock came together to develop it for families living in Essex.

They commissioned Kids to develop and run the service. Kids is a national charity that supports young disabled and neurodivergent people and their families. Kids has over 50 years’ experience of working with young autistic people.

If you are an NHS autism professional or a SENDCO and would like more information about our service and how to refer people please see our dedicated For Professionals page. 

Aimed at: Adolescent , Adult , Parent or carer of under 18, Parent/carer of a child, Parent/carer of a young person, Parents or carers, families, adults, Partner, Professional, School, Students, Young person

Referral Sources: Education, NHS Consultant

Covers: South East

Specialisms: Autism, Autism and Neurodivergent , Challenging behaviour, Exclusively autism specific, Has autism-specific elements, Learning disability, Staff and volunteers get autism awareness training

Other specialisms: All Kids staff are experts by experience and have many years of lived experience of neurodivergence and disability. Most are parents of neurodivergent youngsters. Everyone on the Autism Essex project has direct experience with autism or is autistic themselves.