Profound autism separate diagnosis

Background

We call on the Government and relevant health authorities to recognise profound autism as a distinct diagnostic category, so that people with the most significant and complex autism-related needs can receive appropriate recognition, assessment and support.

Additional details

Autism is a spectrum, but the needs of autistic people can vary enormously. Some autistic people are able to live independently, communicate verbally, work and manage many aspects of everyday life with relatively limited support. Others have profound and lifelong difficulties with communication, independence, learning, sensory processing and everyday life may require substantial support and supervision throughout their lives. We are not seeking to divide or diminish the wider autistic community