Other organisations
Partnership/collaborative services
'Embrace Autism' - Support for Autistic Adults in Scotland
'Embrace Autism' is a nationally delivered programme providing pre- and post-diagnostic support for autistic adults who have recently received a diagnosis or who self-identify as autistic. It is managed through a partnership between Autistic Knowledge Development (AKD), a fully autistic-led think tank, and the National Autistic Society Scotland. The service offers structured online group sessions covering topics such as identity, coping strategies, communication, and employment. It also provides a closed online community space that allows participants to continue engaging with peers and ongoing support following the initial programme. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered wholly within Scotland.
National Autistic Society - Central Scotland Outreach Service
Provides flexible outreach support of 25+ hours per week for autistic adults in Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, Stirling and Renfrewshire Scotland Outreach Service (Central).
One Stop Shop (OSS) Fife
Place where autistic people can access support and advice for everyday life. Based in Kirkcaldy and covers the whole Fife region.
Scottish Autism Dundee Connections
Information, advice and support hub for autistic adults in Dundee (part of Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership), serving autistic adults 18+ yo.
The Cross-Party Group on Autism is a group of MSPs, autistic people, charities and professionals which meets in the Scottish Parliament to discuss issues affecting the autism community. The group is jointly secretaried by the National Autistic Society Scotland and brings together diverse voices to influence autism policy and services across Scotland.
Cross-Party Group on Autism at the Scottish Parliament
Discussion forums
ASD UK
The ASD UK Online Forum is a British website dedicated to people living with autistic spectrum disorders, as well as their families and professionals. Discussions and advice are closely linked to issues such as NHS pathways, education, social care, and support for autistic people.
Autistic adults
The 'Autistic adults' section of the National Autistic Society's online community is a dedicated space where autistic people and their families can connect, support each other, and share experiences related to life as adults on the autism spectrum.
Autism on Reddit
Reddit hosts several discussion communities for autistic adults, each with a distinct focus:
r/AutisticAdults is an international space where adults share lived experiences, discuss challenges like masking and relationships, and offer each other support;
r/adultautism centres on practical advice and mental health, often about diagnosis, employment, and therapy for adults on the spectrum;
r/autismUK is UK-focused, with frequent discussions of local services, NHS assessments, and legal rights, especially for Scottish users;
r/LateDiagnosedAutistic is aimed at people diagnosed later in life, highlighting identity shifts, navigating new self-understanding, and overlapping conditions like ADHD; and
r/AutismScotland, while smaller, creates a community around Scottish-specific resources, policy, local services, and peer-led advocacy within Scotland’s unique regional context.
Wrong Planet
Wrong Planet is an online community and discussion forum that centres on autism, ADHD, and related neurodivergent conditions. Founded in 2004, it has become one of the most recognised digital peer-run spaces where autistic individuals and their families can connect and find support. The community is international in scope, attracting members from around the world, including a significant number from the UK.
Independent advocacy organisations
CAPS Independent Advocacy
CAPS (Collective Advocacy for People in Scotland) Independent Advocacy is a charity serving East Lothian and Midlothian, Scotland, that provides both individual and collective advocacy for people with mental health issues, those using drugs or alcohol, children and young people facing Children’s Hearings proceedings, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Its focus is on enabling people to make their own choices, have their voices heard, and influence decisions affecting their lives; the organisation operates independently from funders and service providers, ensuring advocacy remains unbiased and dedicated solely to clients’ interests.
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) is a national membership body representing and supporting independent advocacy organisations across Scotland. SIAA aims to promote the value and understanding of independent advocacy, provide resources and training to member organisations, advocate for policy improvements and act as a bridge between advocacy services and policymakers to secure robust rights for people who might otherwise struggle to make their voice heard.