Free neurodiversity resources
A signposting list for neurodivergent adults and children, and the people who support them - covering diagnosis, everyday support, work, housing, and more.
Whether you're newly diagnosed, supporting a family member, or exploring what neurodivergence might mean for you, finding the right first step can be the hardest part. This page brings together trusted charities, helplines, government schemes and practical tools in one place, organised by topic.
This list is designed as a starting point. It leans towards autistic adults who do not have a learning disability, but there are plenty of sections to help signpost you to relevant services, information and support. You can also download the full PDF to print or share.
From understanding a diagnosis and managing day-to-day life to navigating work and benefits, you’ll find useful websites, phone numbers and practical information throughout the pack.
Contents
1. Information on diagnosis
What to expect from an autism assessment
- NICE - assessment and diagnosis of autism nice.org.uk
- NHS - newly diagnosed nhs.uk
- National Autistic Society - diagnosis autism.org.uk
- Priory - autism assessments
2. Organisations: information and support
- ADHD UK - Information, resources and research on ADHD - adhduk.co.uk
- Ambitious about Autism - Champions autistic children and young people's rights and opportunities - ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
- Autism Aware UK (AAUK) - autismaware.co.uk
- Autism Central South East Hub - Peer family support across the South East - aspens.org.uk
- East Emotion Dysregulation Autism (E-DA) - emotiondysregautism.org
- National Autistic Society (NAS) - autism.org.uk
- NAS Surrey Family Support: 01483 521 743 · NAS Social Groups (ASSIST): 0208 962 3018
- British Dyslexia Association - bdadyslexia.org.uk, dyslexia-help.org, madebydyslexia.org
- Dyscalculia Association and Dyscalculia Centre - dyscalculia.me.uk
3. Specific topics
- Masking - autism.org.uk
- Burnout - autism.org.uk
- Hypermobility - bps.org.uk
- Synaesthesia - bps.org.uk
4. Mental health support when it gets very tough
Respond - support for people with a learning disability or autism who've experienced abuse, trauma or violence.
- Website: respond.org.uk
- Helpline: 020 7383 0700
SHOUT - confidential 24/7 support for people in crisis.
- Website: giveusashout.org
- Text SHOUT to 85258
Mind - autism and mental health
- Website: mind.org.uk
5. Tech support
Apps for anxiety and overwhelm
To-do and scheduling e.g. Todoist, Trello
Reading and writing aids
- Text-to-speech (e.g. Captivoice.com),
- Speech-to-text (Google Docs Voice Typing, Apple Dictation),
- Grammarly
Distraction blocking
White/ambient noise
6. Advocacy and peer support
- ActuallyAutistic - autism-advocacy.co.uk
- Neurodiverse Self - Advocacy (NDSA) forum ndsa.uk - Peer support and advocacy forum led by neurodivergent people; also runs a work mentoring scheme.
- ADHD UK - adhduk.co.uk
- Society for Neurodiversity (S4Nd) - s4nd.org
7. Work and employment
Access to Work (gov.uk) - grants for practical support, mental health support at work, and communication support at interviews
CIPD - neurodiversity at work
ACAS
- acas.org.uk
- Helpline: 0300 123 1100
Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)
- equalityadvisoryservice.com
- Helpline: 0808 800 0082
8. Benefits
- Start with your local Citizen's Advice
- Disability Grants directory disability-grants.org
- Local Supported Employment (LSE) - government-funded initiative to support autistic adults into work - search "adult autism" on gov.uk
- Disability Rights UK [email protected] 0330 995 0400
9. Coaching
List of ADHD-trained coaches on aadduk.org
10. Independent organisations offering support at work
Employability
- employ-ability.org.uk
- 07852 764 684
Uptimize
Exceptional Individuals
- exceptionalindividuals.com
- 0208 133 6046
Lady Rebel Club - for neurodivergent or disabled women in business
Thriving Autistic
Scope - career pathways advice for ages 15–25 in London/Leeds
- scope.org.uk
- 0808 800 3333
Stonewall - support for LGBTQ+ communities, including inclusive workplaces
11. Housing
12. Law and policy
- The Equality Act (2010) and The Autism Act (2009) - legislation.gov.uk
- National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults (2021–2026) - gov.uk
- Country specific autism strateies are also linked in the full PDF
13. Travel
British Airways
- Disability assistance britishairways.com
- Accessibility team: 0800 408 1100 (Mon–Sat, 8am–6pm)
- Visual guide for autistic passengers; dedicated assistance at Heathrow T5, Zone A.
14. Sport and leisure
15. General reading
- Aherne, D. (2023) A Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity
- Nerenberg, J. (2021) Divergent Mind
- Price, D. (2022) Unmasking Autism
- Safran et al. (2017) Mastering Your Adult ADHD
- Wise, S.J. (2022) The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills
- Wharmby, P. (2022) Untypical
- Magazines: ADDitude · Autistica
- TED Talks: Rosie King, "How autism freed me to be myself"; Temple Grandin, "The world needs all kinds of minds"; Stephen Tonti, "ADHD as a difference in cognition, not a disorder"
