National Autistic Society
Encyclopedia
The National Autistic Society (NAS) is a British charity
for people with autistic spectrum disorders
(ASD), including autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The purpose of the organisation is primarily to improve of the lives of people with Autism in the United Kingdom
.
Founded in 1962 as the Autistic Children's Aid Society of North London, it currently has around 20 000 members. The NAS is funded through voluntary contributions and charity events.
In addition to the campaigns the NAS has a number of specialist facilities to provide support, education and advocacy to autistic people and their families.
s Society (later Scope). The current name was adopted in 1975 when the charity extended its interest to the whole of the United Kingdom
. It has the following names registered with the Charity Commission:
The NAS is organized into four regions and currently run by an elected Board of Trustees and an elected Council through a Strategic Management Group. The president of the NAS is Jane Asher
and the patron is The Countess of Wessex. In 2009, it employed 2 983 persons and spent £83.1 million directly on its charitable activities, out of £86 million in expenditures (approx 97%).
In 2011, the NAS consulted with numerous police agencies in developing identity card schemes designed to ensure a tolerable environment for autistic individuals during inquiries; participating agencies included the Wiltshire Police, the Essex Police
, the Norfolk Constabulary
, the Suffolk Constabulary
, and the Cumbria Constabulary
.
.
, Devon
, and consists mostly of buildings of a former NHS
infectious disease
s unit. The school was established in 1985 in Westward Ho!
, before moving to its current location in 1993 and has a maximum capacity of 26 boarding students. As of March 2009 it is currently supplemented by a further education unit for 14 students, utilising a Grade II listed Rectory
near Northam, Devon.
Construction work to extend and redevelop
the Kingsley House site commenced on January 2009. The project will consolidate all facilities currently provided by Broomhayes School into a single site, easing transportation issues affecting some severely disabled students. The new buildings are expected to be built to the specifications and needs of both boarding and day students, whilst most of the former hospital units will be refurbished. Upon completion in Autumn 2009, the Rectory may be sold off.
, Kent
. The school was originally founded at Gravesend
in 1968, before moving to its present location in 1991.
, Herfordshire. It was opened in 1974, with boarding facilities being added in 1986.
, west London
. It was opened in 1965.
.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
for people with autistic spectrum disorders
Autism spectrum
The term "autism spectrum" is often used to describe disorders that are currently classified as pervasive developmental disorders. Pervasive developmental disorders include autism, Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise...
(ASD), including autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The purpose of the organisation is primarily to improve of the lives of people with Autism in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Founded in 1962 as the Autistic Children's Aid Society of North London, it currently has around 20 000 members. The NAS is funded through voluntary contributions and charity events.
In addition to the campaigns the NAS has a number of specialist facilities to provide support, education and advocacy to autistic people and their families.
History and organization
The National Autistic Society originated from the foundation of the Autistic Children's Aid Society of North London on 23 January 1962 by parents of autistic children living in the area, with the assistance of a member from The SpasticSpastic
The word spastic is used differently depending on location which has led to some controversy and misunderstanding. Derived via Latin from the Greek spastikos , the word originally referred to a change in muscles affected by the medical condition spasticity, which is seen in spastic diplegia and...
s Society (later Scope). The current name was adopted in 1975 when the charity extended its interest to the whole of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It has the following names registered with the Charity Commission:
- The National Autistic Society
- National Society for Autistic Children
- Autism UK
- Action for Autism
The NAS is organized into four regions and currently run by an elected Board of Trustees and an elected Council through a Strategic Management Group. The president of the NAS is Jane Asher
Jane Asher
Jane Asher is an English actress. She has also developed a second career as a cake decorator and cake shop proprietor.-Early life:...
and the patron is The Countess of Wessex. In 2009, it employed 2 983 persons and spent £83.1 million directly on its charitable activities, out of £86 million in expenditures (approx 97%).
In 2011, the NAS consulted with numerous police agencies in developing identity card schemes designed to ensure a tolerable environment for autistic individuals during inquiries; participating agencies included the Wiltshire Police, the Essex Police
Essex Police
Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex in the east of England.It is one of the largest non-metropolitan police forces in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 3,600 police officers and operating across an area of over and with a population of...
, the Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for the county of Norfolk in England. As of March 2009 the force had a strength of 1,668 police officers, 243 Special Constables, 277 PCSOs and just over 1,300 police staff.-History:...
, the Suffolk Constabulary
Suffolk Constabulary
Suffolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Suffolk in East Anglia, England.Suffolk Constabulary is responsible for policing an area of , with a population of...
, and the Cumbria Constabulary
Cumbria Constabulary
Cumbria Constabulary is the territorial police force in England covering Cumbria. It is currently the fifth-largest force in England and Wales in terms of geographic area but one of the smallest in terms of officer numbers. Given the force area's size and population of just under 500,000, it is...
.
Schools and facilities
The NAS manages a number of residential schools in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Broomhayes School
Broomhayes School and Children's Centre (alternatively Kingsley House) is a residential school near BidefordBideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and consists mostly of buildings of a former NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
s unit. The school was established in 1985 in Westward Ho!
Westward Ho!
Westward Ho! is a seaside village near Bideford in Devon, England. The A39 road provides access from the towns of Barnstaple, Bideford and Bude...
, before moving to its current location in 1993 and has a maximum capacity of 26 boarding students. As of March 2009 it is currently supplemented by a further education unit for 14 students, utilising a Grade II listed Rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
near Northam, Devon.
Construction work to extend and redevelop
Redevelopment
Redevelopment is any new construction on a site that has pre-existing uses.-Description:Variations on redevelopment include:* Urban infill on vacant parcels that have no existing activity but were previously developed, especially on Brownfield land, such as the redevelopment of an industrial site...
the Kingsley House site commenced on January 2009. The project will consolidate all facilities currently provided by Broomhayes School into a single site, easing transportation issues affecting some severely disabled students. The new buildings are expected to be built to the specifications and needs of both boarding and day students, whilst most of the former hospital units will be refurbished. Upon completion in Autumn 2009, the Rectory may be sold off.
Helen Allison School
The Helen Allison School is a residential school for 42 day pupils and 28 residential pupils, and is located near MeophamMeopham
Meopham is a large linear village and civil parish in the Borough of Gravesham and ceremonial county of Kent, in England, and lies to the south of Gravesend. The parish covers , and comprises two villages and two smaller settlements; it has a population of 6,427...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. The school was originally founded at Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
in 1968, before moving to its present location in 1991.
Radlett Lodge School
The Radlett Lodge School is a residential school for 49 pupils (including 14 residential) in RadlettRadlett
Radlett is a small town in the county of Hertfordshire between St Albans and Borehamwood on Watling Street with a population of approximately 8,000. It is located in the council district of Hertsmere and is covered by two wards, Aldenham East and Aldenham West...
, Herfordshire. It was opened in 1974, with boarding facilities being added in 1986.
Sybil Elgar School
The Sybil Elgar School is a residential school in SouthallSouthall
Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was opened in 1965.
Robert Ogden School
The Robert Ogden School is a residential school for children 6–19 years old. It includes Clayton Croft which can cater for 16 children and Hoylands House which caters for 14 children, both based based in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Daldorch House School
The Daldorch School is a residential school in Ayrshire, Scotland. It is for children 5–18 years old. The junior campus is a category B listed building, built in 1801.Branding and identity
The NAS has had different styles of branding during it history to reflect changes in their name and role. In the 1990s the main colour scheme was green and its logo was based on the shape of a jigsaw piece. The logo and colour scheme was overhauled in 2002, which involved tones of blue and jade. In 2008 the primary colour scheme was adjusted to shades of violet.External links
- NAS website
- Public Autism Resource and Information Service - 'UK Autism services Directory'
- NAS Information Sheets