Autism - BBC News

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Caroline Campbell - a woman with short, blonde hair wearing grey, square-rimmed glasses. She is smiling at the camera and is standing in the middle of a hall. In the background are some tables with white tablecloths and people talking in the background.

‘Once my autistic son turns 18, his support ends’

Parents tell politicians about the "cliff-edge" their children face when they leave school.

Northern Ireland

A primary school child at work in a classroom using magnetic letters on a white board

Funding for autism assessments 'not materialised'

Financial pressures are hampering efforts to address long waits for autism and ADHD assessments.

Ruth, wearing a pink top, sits on a sofa next to her eight-year-old son Samuel

Special educational needs system 'has burst'

Soaring special needs provision demand means councils buying more private school places, BBC told.

A team of 11 players in a football team, wearing yellow and black kits with their coaches on either side. They are on an artificial football pitch.

Autistic FC break stigmas with mainstream game

"We empower these children to be themselves and being themselves is the biggest thing they can do."

Matthew Punter, looking to the right. He is wearing a white top and yellow shirt, and two blurred ladies are in the foreground.

Former 'worst kid' embarks on employment mission

Matthew Punter, who has autism and ADHD, was expelled from more than 10 schools as a young boy.

Children at a youth club

'We give them that fun person, that friendly face'

Toby, who is autistic and hates loud noises, says staff at a club he attends "really get me".

Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Emma Shores stands in a cafe and looks at the camera. She is wearing a blue dress with a paisley pattern.

'I started a club to make autistic friends'

After finding out she was living with autism Emma wanted to start a club to make new friends.

A boy sits at a table with his back to the camera. He is wearing white headphones and there are text books on the table. He has a multicoloured toy in his hand.

'She stopped eating' - Why home education is rising

One parent said her child was "unrecognisable" as school made her so "depressed".

three black stripes on his shoulders with a grey background, his mothers top is pink.

'My autistic son is like a prisoner in hospital'

Sebastian has been deemed fit for discharge but the 19-year-old has nowhere suitable to go.

Northern Ireland