All Age Autism Strategy
The council is working together with residents and organisations to create an all-age Autism Strategy which will focus on improving the lives of Autistic people and their families in Islington.
Our priorities
- Helping people understand autism
- Helping autistic children and young people at school
- Helping autistic people find jobs
- Making health and care services equal for autistic people
- Making sure autistic people get help in their communities
- Help for autistic people in the justice system
What have we done so far?
We held our first workshop on 25 April 2025, and talked about what is important to autistic people and their families. We also talked about what works well and what we need to do better. The six priorities (above) were agreed at the workshop with autistic people and their families.
From September to December 2025 we heard from over 190 people
- 23 autistic people and family carers and 81 professionals attended working groups to help write the strategy.
- Council Officers attended meetings with 52 professionals to explain that we are writing the strategy.
- Students from The Courtyard School helped make a survey, which we will be sending out soon.
- 7 people shared their stories online.
- 18 people joined Focus Groups at the Autism Hub and Islington Mind
A summary of what the working groups talked about
1. Helping People to Understand Autism
Parents and council officers met on 24 September and 22 October. The group agreed that understanding autism is very important for all priorities so we will include this as a theme throughout the strategy. The group also talked about better access to education and jobs and thought about what we should include in the strategy to help make this happen.
2. Helping Autistic Children and Young People at School
Parents and council officers met on 7 October and 17 November. The group thought about what support people need. For example:
- Helping autistic children manage changes (like moving schools)
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Making sure children can go to school and stay there.
- Children having a full timetable
- Helping parents feel confident that their child’s needs are met
3. Helping autistic people find jobs
Autistic people, parents, and employers joined a meeting on 28 October. The group talked about what works well and what ‘good’ looks like. The group are thinking about what to include in the strategy, for example a flag on the Islington job portal for autism-friendly employers, looking at national job charters and sharing best practice.
4. Making health and care services equal for autistic people and 5. Making sure autistic people get help in their communities
Autistic people, parents and Council officers met on 30 September and 21 October. The working groups for these two priorities were held together as it can be helpful to think about health and care services and help in the community together, rather than separately.
The group talked about what support is currently on offer and any gaps. People shared case studies of how their services support autistic people. The group thought about how we can work more closely together and make services more autistic friendly to improve support.
6. Help for autistic people in the justice system.
Council Officers have been meeting with the Police, Probation, people who work in the Courts, autistic young people and their families to think about how to improve support for autistic people who come into contact with the justice system.
How can I get involved?
- Check this page for updates on events including our 'Important Information' section (right) where we add key documents
- Contact our team directly to have your say or for more information on mhcommissioningteam@islington.gov.uk
