Tameside Autism Network
Autism is a spectrum condition, not a disorder. Over 1 in every 100 people in the U.K. is autistic (National Autistic Society), and each autistic person will experience the world in different ways.
Autism Diagnosis
What to expect:
- During the first assessment, you can attend on your own or with a family member/partner.
- The first assessment can be carried out in your own home, or at the clinic. It involves a series of questions which gather information about yourself.
- After the initial assessment the team will decide if you need a full assessment.
The Autism diagnosis referral form can be downloaded here: Autism Referral Form
Autism diagnostic team contact number - 0161 716 4700
For more information regarding Autism and adult diagnosis see: Getting a Diagnosis – Autism Tameside & Glossop (wordpress.com)
Post Diagnosis Pack
The post diagnostic pack has been created to provide information for those following a diagnosis of Autism.
The pack includes information on the National Autistic Society, Employment and Education, your rights as an autistic individual, benefits, sensory information, useful information and websites.
Please find a post diagnostic support pack here.
Other Support Available in Tameside
Tameside Autism Network (TAN)
The Tameside Autism Network is useful to join if you would like to receive regular email bulletins of information that can help you to find resources and opportunities.
TAN shares information on anything that might be helpful for autistic people, their friends and supporters looking for support or opportunities in Tameside; times of groups, current surveys and research, events and resources that may be helpful.
TAN Monthly In-Person Meeting
The Tameside Autism Network is a peer led support group that meets every 4th Thursday of the month from 5pm until 7pm at the Active iTrain on Birch Lane, Dukinfield, SK16 5AP.
From 18th January 2024 the Tameside Autism Network will also be meeting at Academy HQ in Stalybridge on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 17:30pm to 19:00pm. To find out more about TAN, email tan@tameside.gov.uk
Tameside Autism Panel (TAP)
The consultation group meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month 12:00 – 13:30 via Microsoft Teams. To get involved with TAP, email; tap@tameside.gov.uk
Tameside Autism Carers Group (TAC)
Tameside Autism Carers (TAC) is a peer-led group meeting for parents and Carers of neurodivergent people, and members of the autistic community.
The meetings occur every 2nd Thursday of the month, 18:00pm until 19:30pm, at the Tameside Carer’s Centre, Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-Under Lyne, OL6 6BH.
Please enter through Ashton Library. For more information, please email tan@tameside.gov.uk
Tameside Autism In Mind (TAIM)
This takes place every other Tuesday at Tameside, Oldham and Glossop MIND, Katherine Street, Ashton from 16:00 – 18:00. For more information call 0161 330 9223, or email peersupport@togmind.org
Autism Hospital Passport
‘My Hospital Passport’ is a resource for autistic people who might need hospital treatment. The passport is designed to help autistic people to communicate their needs to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.When you have completed your passport, take it with you whenever you visit hospital and show it to the healthcare professionals you meet.
When admitted to hospital for treatment overnight, or for a long stay, you should give the passport to the healthcare professional responsible for your care, and ask them to make sure the passport is kept with your patient notes.
Passports can be downloaded or printed from here Health_Passport_A4_2020.pdf (thirdlight.com)
Reasonable Adjustment Card
The GM Autism and Learning Disability Reasonable Adjustment in Acute Settings group have developed a small credit card sized card to ask for brief adjustments to ease the transit through medical intervention/support.The card would be ideal for use in reception areas where it is unlikely that staff would have time to read a longer document.
The group has developed 4 versions of this card, which can be found below.
One side is for adjustments needed to help you remain calm, and the other side is to communicate a more urgent need when the person feels distressed and needs people to understand this, and to know how they can help.
Free downloadable cards:
Card for an autistic person
Card for a person who prefers the term person with autism or person with an ASC
Card for an autistic person left blank to personalise
Card for a person with learning disability left blank to personalise
It is strongly advised that if you have a passport, you should mention it on this card as your passport is likely to contain more detail.
For information that the NHS has published in relation to people with learning disabilities going into hospital click here. Some of this information is useful for autistic people who do not have a learning disability as well.