Adult Services

Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects the way that people communicate and relate to those around them. People with autism find it difficult to relate to others in a socially meaningful way.

Autism is underpinned by three core areas of impaired development, known as the triad of impairments.

Social interaction – difficulty with social relationships, for example appearing aloof to other people and not understanding other people’s emotions and needs;

Social communication – difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, which can range from being non-verbal to not understanding the meaning of gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice;

In addition to the triad of impairments, most people with autism also have difficulty in managing their sensory experiences. They may be over or under stimulated by sensory experiences or may only be able to cope with one sensory input at a time; they may find a particular noise or touch painful or may not be able to look at another person and listen to what the person is saying at the same time.

Autism Sussex supports people whose levels of ability range from severe autism and learning difficulties to people with Asperger syndrome who are working.

Autism Sussex provides services which are autism friendly, individualistic, structured, predictable and low arousal which enables people to manage their anxieties, stress and social interactions more successfully.

People with autism benefit from a structured lifestyle and each service-user has their own timetable of daily events, supported through the use of TEACCH pictures or word symbols.

Each of our service-users has a member of staff who focuses on their needs and case work; these key workers attend meetings, reviews and appointments, as well as caring for the day to day needs of the person. All staff undergo a comprehensive induction programme and receive regular autism specific training, as well as training in a wide range of communication methods such as TEACCH and Makaton.