The National Autistic Society is a charity for autistic people and their families in the United Kingdom. Since 1962, the National Autistic Society has been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people. The National Autistic Society is funded through UK government grants and voluntary contributions. The Chief Executive as of 2025 is Caroline Stevens. She took over from Mark Lever in 2019, after being Chief Executive at Kids for six years.

History

The organisation was founded on 23 January 1962 as the Society for Psychotic Children by parents of autistic children living in the area, with the assistance of a member from the Spastics Society (later Scope). Its origins were as a self-help group involving both parents and professionals. It was renamed the Society for Autistic Children later that year, the National Society for Autistic Children in 1966, and the National Autistic Society in 1975. In 1963, Gerald Gasson, a parent and member of the executive committee, designed the primary symbol for autism: a puzzle piece with a picture of a crying child inside of it, which was first used as logo by the NAS itself. In 1965, The Society School for Autistic Children was established, later renamed as the Sybil Elgar School after their first principal. It was described as "the first of its kind in the UK, and, it is thought, the world", and quickly became an example for how autistic people should be taught, and influenced the TEACCH methods in the US.

Activities

The National Autistic society is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism. It is also a founding member of Autism-Europe.

Organisation

Over 3,000 people work for the National Autistic Society in schools and services as well as training, fundraising, policy and campaigns teams. Its president is Jane Asher and the patron is the Duchess of Edinburgh.

List of National Autistic Society schools and facilities

Present schools and facilities

The National Autistic Society manages a number of schools in the United Kingdom: The National Autistic Society also runs services for autistic adults.

Past schools and facilities

The National Autistic Society had also managed 3 former schools that no longer existed since the changes of the NAS logos.

Liberty Academy Trust schools and former NAS facilities

Academies that have left the National Autistic Society after 10 years or under, and since between 2022 and 2023 are now under the Liberty Academy Trust.

Awards and nominations