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We asked you to help us show MPs how to make the education system work for autistic people, by sending us pictures of your dream autism friendly school for our competition. We can now reveal the winners!

Congratulations to Jaja and Dilly!

Winners

Winner, Over-16s

Jaja

The judges loved the encouragement of stimming for self-regulation and communication in this artwork. Jaja’s design shows five key things schools need, and an effective whole-school approach of staff understanding and embracing non-typical forms of communication.

Winner, Under-16s

Dilly

The judges really liked that this artwork shows both the current state of education and what the future could look like. Dilly uses her own experiences and knowledge to show that schools could be accessible for lots more young people with the help of some adjustments.

Jaja and Dilly have won a £50 voucher for Hobbycraft and we’ll be displaying their artwork along with some other amazing entries in Parliament.

Runner-up

Sally

The judges like how Sally’s artwork shows three levels that are needed for schools to support autistic students. Staff understanding forms the roots, which then means they can provide the right adjustments, creating a safe and supportive space.

Thank you to everyone who entered! There were so many wonderful ideas and we will be talking to MPs about all of them at our education event in Parliament this autumn.

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Meet the judges...

Carrie Grant MBE

Carrie Grant MBE, as well as being our celebrity judge and charity ambassador, Carrie is also a passionate advocate of improving the education system for autistic people. As a parent of autistic children Carrie has had both good and bad experiences with schools and knows firsthand what a difference it makes when the right support is in place... especially if it happens without a fight. Carrie believes when schools get it right, it can make a life-saving difference and that no child should leave school traumatised by their experiences.

Jade

Jade knows what it is like to miss out on the support you need at school, as she didn‘t get her autism diagnosis until she was an adult. She now works in education, supporting the National Autistic Society Cullum Centres, specialist autism centres in mainstream schools that have the
staff and the environment autistic children need to thrive.

Max

Max is a young campaigner for the National Autistic Society. Our Young Ambassadors use their knowledge and experience to campaign for better services for all autistic people. School was a really difficult and traumatic time for Max but they are now just finishing their degree in Education, and plan to use this to make sure autistic students don’t have to go through what they did.

Daisy

Daisy is another of our very own Young Ambassadors. Daisy also struggled at school due to not yet being diagnosed. Her needs weren’t met and this had a bad impact on her mental health. A lack of information about autistic women and girls inspired Daisy to become a Young Ambassador.