Autism Partnership Board
What is Autism?
Autism is often referred to as Autism Spectrum Condition or ASC. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. Autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. If you are autistic, you are autistic for life; autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be 'cured'. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental aspect of their identity. Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways.
What is Asperger syndrome?
Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.
Vision for the Partnership Board
The Autism Partnership Board (“The Board”) is a group that works together to make sure that people of all ages with autism in Gloucestershire, their families and carers have the best life they can.
The Board oversees the Gloucestershire Strategy for people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) 2018 – 2021 and ensures that actions in the strategy are being carried out.
Members of the Board are expected to raise awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with autism, as well as championing the strategy.
How will we communicate with people?
You may ask to attend a partnership board meeting by emailing disabilitiescommissioning@gloucestershire.gov.uk
- Meetings and should be accessible to all Board Members including those with lived experience. Agendas are in an easy read format and minutes will use plain, accessible language and avoid acronyms.
- We will send an agenda to Board members before the meeting and place on this webpage.
- Minutes from previous meetings will be sent out after the meeting for people to read (via email/post at request). They will be agreed at the next meeting and then put on this webpage so everyone can access.
For more information on the rules of meetings and ensuring meetings are accessible to those with lived experience, please see the rules of attending partnership board meetings in the More Information box on this page.
Who is on the Partnership Board?
Co Chairs:
- Judith North (Independent Consultant)
- Andrew Cotterill (local resident with lived experience)
The Autism Partnership Board is made up of a range of members and groups. These include;
- Residents of Gloucestershire with lived experience of autism
- Gloucestershire County Council / Clinical Commissioning Group - Adults and Children’s hubs
- Gloucestershire County Council Social Care- Children’s and Adults
- Gloucestershire Constabulary
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Gloucestershire County Council SEND - Disabled Children and Young People
- Gloucestershire County Council / Clinical Commissioning Group – Adults and Children’s hubs
- Gloucestershire Autism Network Group
- Gloucestershire Care Providers Association