Autism Anglia (see separate web site) was formed following the merger of the Essex Autistic Society, Norfolk Autistic Society & NACHA (the Norfolk Autistic Community Housing Association) in 2008. It exists to 'promote the welfare, education and care' of children, young people and adults with autism and in so doing provide support and assistance to their families and carers. We provide a range of services to enable people with autism to live as independently as possible and to experience choice and inclusion in society. Our services include:

• Adult Residential care, currently offering 27 places in five houses in Essex, three houses in Norfolk.
• Community Support, providing care in seven independent living houses for 13 service users.
• The Jigsaw Study Centre, providing education, training and recreation for 50 adults each week.
• Doucecroft School, which provides weekly boarding and day pupil education for children, aged 3 -19 years. There is capacity at the school to accommodate a total of 64 students.
• A Further Education department with 14 day and boarding places specifically for young people aged 16-19.
• A Family Support Service, which provides advice and support for families and carers, professional and the emergency services.
• Our own qualified Clinical Psychology Service and Speech & Language Therapists work with our service users and staff to assess needs and implement strategies for well-being and communication

Autism is a lifelong condition and, at present, there is no one known effective cure, however, early intervention and individual specialised help and support can really assist people with autism to maximise their skills, achieve their full potential and lead a fulfilling life within the community.

It is estimated that in the United Kingdom autism in all its forms affects about 1% of the population i.e. about 600,000 in the whole of the country and about 28,000 in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

Our mission statement captures the essence of what we seek to do:
'To provide a specialist service for children, young people and adults with autistic spectrum disorders, that is developed and resourced to facilitate and promote individual growth through education, independence, social skills and self esteem. To strive to provide a service of the highest quality and best practice as recognised locally and nationally.'

Please see the Autism Anglia Site for more information on the organisation, any of our services or how to get involved.