The Autism Centre of Excellence
The Autism Centre of Excellence (ACE) at Cambridge is preparing a “benchmarking survey” of autistic people’s mental health and wellbeing. The survey is modelled on official national surveys, like the Annual Population Survey and the UK Household Longitudinal Study, that collect data about mental health and wellbeing in the general population to inform local and national policy decisions, but do not ask respondents whether or not they are autistic. We hope that, by comparing autistic people’s responses to those of the general population, we will be able to identify key areas where autistic people’s needs are not being met.
Next week, when we launch the survey, we would like to make contact with the Dudley Autism Partnership Board to ask for help circulating the survey in Dudley.
At the Autism Centre of Excellence, we want autistic people to be treated with the same rights, respect and dignity as everybody else. We have just published a UK-wide survey to fill the gaps in national data that currently make autistic people's needs and experiences invisible to decision-makers. We would like your help publicising the survey as widely as possible.
The UK government, NHS and other service providers use wellbeing data from official national surveys, such as the Annual Population Survey and the UK Household Longitudinal Study, to inform spending and investment decisions. These official surveys do not allow respondents to disclose whether or not they are autistic. This means that there is no way for organisations using this data to see how autistic people’s needs and experiences differ from those of the general population.
Our survey, which we have created in collaboration with members of our Community Advisory Panel and State of Life, asks autistic people questions from these official surveys. This will enable us to compare the health and wellbeing of autistic people directly with the health and wellbeing of the general population. We are calling this a “benchmarking survey.” We hope that the benchmarked data will make it easier for national and local government, the NHS, and others to consider the unique needs of the autistic community when they take wellbeing-informed decisions.
To make the data as useful as it can be, we would like as many autistic people as possible to complete the survey, which is why we are asking for your help. We would be grateful if you would publicise the survey with autistic people in Dudley and partner organisations in your network.
We know that mental health and wellbeing are very high priority areas for the autistic community in the UK and so we are very grateful for your support with this important project. If you have any questions about the survey or if there is any other way that I can help, I would be very happy to hear from you.
With warm wishes from all of us at the Autism Centre of Excellence at Cambridge.