Autism West Midlands Information Helpline

Thousands of people receive support from our helpline each year. It is often the first port of call for a parent following a child’s diagnosis or first point of contact for families and individuals in crisis!

Our helpline costs £15 an hour to run and is funded through voluntary donations, grants and trusts. In the last 5 years it is estimated we have helped over 15,000 individuals through contacts made to the helpline.

There really is no such thing a typical day on the helpline, the calls and emails are so varied in topics.  The helpline sometimes tackle very serious issues such as calls from individuals on the spectrum who are desperate, lonely and feeling like they have no-where to turn. Families who feel they cannot cope with their child’s violent or aggressive behaviour due to a build-up of anxiety or frustration. There are those seeking information about autism diagnosis, benefits, support groups and there are even questions about autism friendly hairdressers or what is the best dog for an autistic child. The list really is endless.

We are usually the first point of contact for families and individuals in crisis. There is a desperate need for the service we provide.

The service that the Helpline provides is a lifeline for a lot of families and Individuals effected by autism who are genuinely grateful for the opportunity to talk to someone who really understands.

In the current climate there are fewer and fewer services to signpost families and adults to.  The Helpline provides one of the most valuable things, that is a listening ear.

Sometimes, this is enough.  The chance for someone be totally honest about their situation in absolute confidence, can make all the difference.

Without the Helpline service, there would be far more families at crisis point and far more adults with no-where to turn for help and support.

Our Helpline is often the first point of contact for many families in crisis. Thousands of people receive support from our helpline each year. It is often the first port of call for a parent following a child’s diagnosis.

Sylvia’s family are supported by Autism West Midlands. She has used the helpline on several occasions when her son was having a particularly hard time. He was struggling at school, Sylvia was only getting 2 hours a night sleep, he was violent, aggressive and such an unhappy boy because of all the negative things being thrown at him. Sylvia found the helpline and phoned them up.

 “I phoned the helpline and they were kind and just listened, staff were always very knowledgeable and always very helpful. Sometimes it was just if you are having a bad day I would ring up and say I’m having a really bad day”.