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What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

According to the National Autistic Society (NAS):

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.

Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways.

Other Names for Autism

Different labels have historically been used to diagnose autism:

– autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
– autism spectrum condition (ASC)
– classic autism
– Kanner autism
– pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)
– high-functioning autism (HFA)
– Asperger syndrome
– Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

This reflects the different diagnostic manuals and tools used, and the different autism profiles presented by individuals.

Read more at the NAS website.

If you want to know more about the autism diagnostic pathway – called the Social Communication Pathway (SCP) – in Manchester, please visit http://manchesterparentcarerforum.org.uk/social-communication-pathway-faqs/.

Below are some of our articles relating to autism:

Research on Autistic Experiences of Covid Lockdown in 2020

A fellow Manchester parent-carer recently shared with us this invitation to get involved with a research study in her university: Hello, My name is Eve Bent and I am a PhD researcher at the University of Salford. I am currently running a study examining the

Social Communication Pathway FAQs

Last March, we held a virtual Question-and-Answer session with the Social Communication Pathway (SCP) Team so that parents and carers can learn more about this new autism assessment pathway in Manchester. A few parents joined us at the session and we were joined by:

Improved Social Communication Pathway in Manchester

We recently received great news that, because the Social Communication Pathway pilot in South Manchester has improved the experience and wait time for children and young people undergoing assessment for autism, the pathway has now been approved for a city-wide roll out. This means