Autism and complex needs

Autistic people engaging with services will have needs that vary in complexity, depending upon the level of support in place and difficulties faced at any given time. However, it is becoming clear both nationally and internationally, that there are a small group of autistic children and adults, who present with particularly complex needs, relating to co-occurring mental or physical health conditions, additional learning needs and/or requiring significant levels of support or adaptation in daily life. For example, these may include, but are not limited to, eating disorders, gender dysphoria, extreme demand avoidance, selective mutism, epilepsy and genetic disorders. 

Autism and Complex Needs Special Interest Group (ACNSIG)

In 2022, a group of multi-disciplinary professionals with a shared interest in supporting autistic people with complex needs came together informally to explore the potential for establishing an Autism and Complex Needs Special Interest Group (ACNSIG).   Specifically, with the aim of improving standards of care and support and outcomes for autistic people with complex needs, and to do this by providing a mutually supportive and confidential space for professionals from a variety of disciplines, who work with autistic people of all ages with complex needs, to:

  • Share professional practice and seek peer reflections.
  • Share and discuss new and emerging developments in practice.
  • Take forward actions, where a need is identified, to improve understanding and awareness amongst other professionals.
  • Identify opportunities for the group to inform and influence UK policy and practice, including contributing to stakeholder consultations.

The development of this group is still in its infancy with further updates to be published on this webpage in due course.  In the meantime, it is the intention of this informal group to host online panel discussions on topics of interest related to autism and complex needs.  These events will be advertised on this web page and free for any professional to access once registered.

Contact/Mailing list

As detailed above, the formation of the Autism and Complex Needs Special Interest Group is still in its infancy.  At this stage this group is informal and does not have the resources to respond to individual enquiries.  You are welcome to email info@acnsig.org but with apologies it may not be possible for us to give you a reply.

If you are a registered professional who is working in the area of education, social care or health, with experience or an interest in supporting autistic people with complex needs, and would like to join our mailing list to receive emails about general information, news or events, please complete this sign-up form. For information about how the ACNSIG looks after your information, please visit our privacy policy.

Bios

Dr Gloria Dura-Vila – Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Medical Lead for the ASD Pathway in Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Gloria is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and the Medical Lead for the ASD Pathway in Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (a role for which she was awarded a triple Clinical Excellence Award in 2020). She is a member of the Autism Education Trust’s Expert Reference Group and of the executive committee of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ SIG for Spirituality & Psychiatry. Gloria combines her NHS and private clinical work with teaching and research in the fields of neurodevelopment and cultural psychiatry. She is a guest lecturer at Queen Mary University London and has lectured at Imperial College London, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Great Ormond Street Hospital, amongst others. Gloria is passionate about communicating the autism diagnosis in the best possible manner and has written several books about autism and PDA.

Dr Judy Eaton – Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Judy began her career as an academic before working as a lead clinical psychologist in the NHS and a low secure psychiatric hospital. She set up a private practice, Help for Psychology, in 2015 and has extensive experience of assessing, diagnosing and working therapeutically with adults, children and families across the ability spectrum with a specialism in areas of complex needs. Judy is a research associate at King’s College London, has published a book on mental health in autistic girls and young women and is a member of NHS England’s Strategic Oversight Board.