The Centre for Research in Psychology at London South Bank University is proud to be hosting a free half-day event entitled ‘Diagnosing Autism – Perspectives of Parents, Patients and Practitioners’, as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2012.

Who is the event for?

The event is aimed at a broad audience and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about the current situation regarding autism diagnostic experiences in the UK, including…

• Adults with autism and their parents/carers
• Clinicians working with children or adults with autism
• Representatives from UK charities or funding bodies
• Academics and researchers
• Policy makers (e.g., those working within government departments or participating in public inquiries)
• Journalists

Programme
The full programme will be available shortly. Highlights of the event include:

•    A talk from Dr Elisabeth Hill (Goldsmiths, University of London) on the results of a recent large-scale survey of parents, patients and practitioners about their experiences of receiving and communicating a diagnosis of autism
•    Presentations from service users about their personal experiences of the autism diagnostic process
Small group discussions to identify ways to improve the autism diagnostic process in the UK

Why is this event being held?
Receiving a diagnosis of autism has a major impact on an individual and their family. As autism spectrum disorders affect approximately 1 in 100 individuals – over 600,000 people in the UK – this represents a significant public health issue. It has been over 15 years since Professor Patricia Howlin and Dr Anna Moore published the results of a large-scale survey exploring the experiences of receiving a diagnosis of autism in the UK. By surveying approximately 1300 parents, they found that around half of families were ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ satisfied with the diagnostic process. Further, the amount of support offered to families after they received the diagnosis was extremely limited. In the 15 years since the publication of this survey, the situation regarding the diagnosis of autism in the UK has changed significantly. As autism is now a more widely recognised disorder, there has been a huge increase in the amount of people receiving a diagnosis. The Diagnosing Autism event coincides with the conclusion of three large surveys that explore the current experience of receiving or communicating a diagnosis of autism in the UK. Delegates at the event will be able to hear about this latest research and discuss ways of further improving the autism diagnostic process.

What are the intended outcomes of the event?
It is hoped that delegates will gain a fresh understanding of the major issues facing people with autism, their families, and clinicians when receiving or communicating a diagnosis of autism. Attendees will also be able to feedback their views on this work and discuss recommendations for improvements.

Further information about the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2012 can be found on the ESRC website.

FAQs

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

We are easily reached by public transport and full directions can be found by visiting our website. There are no parking facilities on-site and limited parking in the surrounding areas.

Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please contact us using the contact buttons on this page. We will respond to your query as soon as possible.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes, you can update your details after you have submitted your booking form.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, we will have a registration list.

What is the refund policy?

As tickets are free there is no refund policy. We are unable to re-imburse any costs associated to travel.