The Rise School gets DfE approval

We are delighted to announce that The Rise School has been granted approval to open in September 2014 by the Department for Education.

A Curious Night at the Theatre fundraising event for Ambitious about Autism

Ambitious about Autism has some fantastic news for fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time! Ambitious about Autism Ambassador and Actor Luke Treadaway – who won a Best Actor Olivier Award for his portrayal of Christopher Boone in the play – is organising a spectacular theatrical event to raise money for us and the National Autistic Society.

Supporting learners with autism – an opportunity for colleges

Ambitious about Autism with the Association of Colleges and nasen are offering an opportunity for colleges and secondary schools to be involved in an exciting new project that will develop staff skills and capacity in order to support young people with autism in the transition from school to college.

Olivier Award-winning actor Luke Treadaway is our new Ambassador

Actor Luke Treadaway - who last month won a Best Actor Olivier Award for his portrayal of Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - is a new Ambassador for Ambitious about Autism.

Minister tells Pears Lecture statements of special educational needs will retain legal status

Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson MP gave the keynote speech at the Pears Ambitious about Autism Annual Lecture 2013 on Monday 29 April at Portcullis House, Westminster.

Our campaign to improve the Children and Families Bill

Ambitious about Autism is currently campaigning to influence the Children and Families Bill. The Bill is currently being debated by Parliament, if it becomes law, this Bill will radically change how young people with autism access services and support.

Our response to Children's Commissioner for England's report into illegal exclusions

Read our response to Children's Commissioner for England's report into illegal exclusions, Always Someone Else's Problem.

‘Autism is…’ Youth Patron photography exhibition launched at Apollo Theatre

Youth Patrons from Ambitious about Autism attended the official opening and celebration of their ‘Autism is…’ photography exhibition at the Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

A huge thank you to all our Virgin London Marathon runners!

On Sunday 21 April, 19 runners completed the Virgin London Marathon 2013 to raise almost £30,000 for Ambitious about Autism. Some were marathon first-timers, others achieved personal bests; all of them are passionate about enabling children young people with autism to learn, thrive and achieve their potential.

Irving Anderson joins our expert adviser team

Ambitious about Autism has appointed Irving Anderson to its expert advisers team. Irving Anderson is the chair of ParliAble, the Houses of Parliament Disability Network.

Results from our recent web satisfaction survey

Thanks to all of you who responded to our recent web satisfaction survey. We first launched the survey in September 2012 and this is the second time we have asked for your feedback.

Autism Film Club launches to rave reviews - live Q&A with director tonight!

Autism Film Club launched yesterday (3 April) with Fly Away. Janet Grillo’s award-winning film attracted a large audience in 29 countries across the world including Mexico, Tunisia and China.

Fly Away now screening

Autism Film Club has launched and the award-winning Fly Away is now streaming for a 24-hour period (until 9am BST on 4 April 2013) on the Ambitious about Autism website.

#AutismIs Twitter campaign shines on World Autism Awareness Day

An estimated 20,000 Twitter users were reached in Ambitious about Autism’s #AutismIs Twitter campaign to mark World Autism Awareness Day yesterday.

Join our #AutismIs Twitter campaign on World Autism Awareness Day

For World Autism Awareness Day this year on 2 April 2013, Ambitious about Autism is planning a Twitter campaign called ‘Autism is…’ and we want you to join in!

Our Youth Patrons launch 'Autism is...' photography project

‘Autism is…’ photography exhibition brings together the unique experience and personal perspectives of seven young people with autism and what they think ‘Autism is…’ through photographing their everyday lives. These young people are Youth Patrons of Ambitious about Autism.

Volunteer with Team Ambitious at the London Marathon

The London Marathon is one of the most prestigious of all road runs with most of the thirty five thousand runners raising millions of pounds for charity. On 21 April seventeen runners will participate in the Virgin London Marathon in aid of Ambitious about Autism, having collectively raised nearly £15,000 so far to transform the lives of children and young people with autism.

Youth Patron speaks at autism awareness event in Parliament

Ambitious about Autism Youth Patron David Nicholson spoke at an autism awareness event in Portcullis House, Westminster, earlier this month about his experiences of school, university and work.

Autism Schools Trust

Ambitious about Autism has a commitment to autism and learning disability education to improve outcomes in adulthood. Together with our partners Dimensions, we have established a new organisation – the Autism Schools Trust.

Too Sane for this World – UK Premiere

On Tuesday 26 March we partnered with CRAE to host the UK premiere of Too Sane for this World, the award-winning film by William Davenport.

Our new report: Our Lives in Your Hands

Our report Our Lives in Your Hands tells the stories of nine families affected by autism. The report sets out the families stories and highlights how the reforms proposed in the Children and Families Bill will impact them. The report is designed to help policy makers better understand the lives of the children and young people whose lives their decisions will affect.

Childrens Minister Edward Timpson responds to Finished at School campaign supporters

Minister for Children Edward Timpson MP has responded to emails from Finished at School campaign supporters, setting out what more he will do to create support for young people aged 19-25 through the Children and Families Bill.

Take action: Is your MP coming to our annual lecture?

We need as many MPs as possible to come along to our annual lecture on the 29 April, to hear young people with autism and their families explain what matters to them.

Ambitious about Autism hosting a series of free transition seminars for parents and carers

Ambitious about Autism is hosting a series of free seminars for parents and carers of young adults with a learning disability, following the success of our Family Support season of live online Q&As.

Read the transcript of our online Q & A with Dr Wendy Lawson

Dr Wendy Lawson, psychologist, counsellor, lecturer and author on the autism spectrum, took part in a live online Q & A with us on Thursday 14 March 2013. She answered questions about her life and perspectives on autism.

New national initiative to support young people with autism transition to college

Ambitious about Autism is starting a new national initiative to support clusters of school and further education colleges support young people with autism transition successfully into college.

Join our next Talk about Autism online Q & A with Dr Wendy Lawson

Dr Wendy Lawson, psychologist, counsellor, lecturer and author on the autism spectrum, will take part in a live online Q & A with Talk about Autism on Thursday 14 March 2013 at 8-9pm GMT.

Lord Storey visits Ambitious about Autism

Ambitious about Autism and TreeHouse School welcomed Lord Storey who visited on 6 March 2013. Lord Storey toured the school and learned about some of the vocational opportunities open to pupils.

Join us for World Autism Awareness Month

Whether it’s hosting a coffee morning for friends, holding a dress-down day at work, becoming a Regular Giver, signing up to a challenge, volunteering at an event, making a one off donation online or by text, why not join us in raising vital awareness and funds this World Autism Awareness Month?

UK premiere of Too Sane for this World - book your free tickets

Too Sane for this World will receive its UK premiere in central London on Tuesday 26 March 2013 and you can book tickets for free. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director William Davenport.

Join Team Ambitious for our summer of cycling!

This summer Team Ambitious will be taking on a trio of exciting cycling challenges, and you could join us! We’ll be cycling to Paris with the support of Rapha; leaving London and peddling for Brighton beach; and following in the tread marks of Olympic champions as we take on Ride London.

Take action to improve the Children and Families Bill: Email the Children's Minister!

Please email Children’s Minister Edward Timpson MP today and ask him to further strengthen the Children and Families Bill for young people with autism.

Tell Government what you think about the Children and Families Bill

A new online forum allows people to share their thoughts and ideas about the Children and Families Bill with the committee of MPs who will consider the Bill. You can share your personal experience of the SEN system, and suggest changes that should be made to the Bill.

Children and Families Bill published

The Children and Families Bill, which is the legislation that will put the government’s SEN and disability reforms into action, was published on 5 February 2013.

Social entrepreneur Charlotte Grobien donates £25,000 to Ambitious about Autism

Charlotte Grobien, a social entrepreneur, has donated £25,000 to support Ambitious about Autism’s youth participation work. The donation takes the amount to £1million Charlotte has given to different charities through her property development initiative Give it Away.

New survey on finding the right services for a child with a SEN or disability

The SEND Consortium has published a new survey for parents or carers of children and young people who have a special educational need and/or a disability (SEND).

Our response to the publication of the Children and Families Bill

Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, responds to the publication of the Children and Families Bill.

Ambitious about Autism needs your stories to influence SEN reforms

Ambitious about Autism is looking for young people with autism and their families to share their stories for a report we are writing to influence MPs. The report aims to influence ‘the biggest SEN reforms in a generation’ which are currently going through Parliament.

Ambitious Support successfully inspected by Care Quality Commission

Ambitious about Autism’s new service providing care and support to young people aged 19–25 with autism has passed its first Care Quality Commission inspection.

Response to the Metropolitan Police appeal against judgment by Judge Robert Nelson on autism case - ZH v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis (14 March 2012)

Read our response to the Metropolitan Police appeal against judgment by Judge Robert Nelson on autism case - ZH v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis.

Capital FM presenters Pandora and Will Cozens visit TreeHouse School

Capital FM presenters Pandora and Will Cozens visited TreeHouse School to look at the Capital Sixth Form Learning Stations a year after they were launched.

Two new expert advisers join the team

Ambitious about Autism has appointed two new advisers to its expert advisers team: Leo Capella, disability rights campaigner, and Dr Liz Pellicano, the new Director of the Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE).

Talk about Autism launches Family Support Season online Q & As

Talk about Autism is hosting a series of online Q&A sessions to support families with autism on the issues they care the most about. Entitled the Family Support Season, the live Q&As will launch on 16 January 2013 and run fortnightly until 30 February.

MPs report backs our calls for better support for young disabled people beyond school

A cross-party group of MPs have published their report on the Government’s proposed special educational needs and disability reforms.

Ambitious about Autism's response to Winterbourne review

Ambitious about Autism respond to ‘Transforming Care’, a report into the abuse uncovered at Winterbourne View Hospital.

Join the Crouch End Festival Chorus on Saturday 15 December 2012

Come and join us in an evening of world-class music with the Crouch End Festival Chorus's concert: Sing Christmas! on Saturday 15 December 2012.

New publication 'Finding My Voice: Learning Difficulties and Disabilities in FE' launched

The 157 Group and Natspec, both supporters of our Finished at School campaign, have published a collection of ten learner voices highlighting the experiences of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

Support our Finished at School campaign

Finished at School is a national campaign which aims to secure more and better educational options for all young people with autism aged 16 – 25 to enable them to develop skills, gain employment, live more independently and ultimately to live the life they choose.

Eight ways you can make a difference this Christmas

From taking part in a challenge event to becoming a regular giver, there are lots of exciting ways that you can help Ambitious about Autism this Christmas.

The Guardian choose us for Christmas appeal

We are delighted that Ambitious about Autism has been chosen as one of eight charities for The Guardian Christmas Appeal 2012.

Ambitious musicians raise money for Ambitious about Autism

Two musicians have released an album and are donating some of its proceeds to Ambitious about Autism. James Christy, aged 22, and Adam Williams, aged 16, released the aptly-named Ambitious earlier this month on iTunes and Amazon.

College Good Practice Guide launched

We have published a new guide called 'Creating inclusive colleges for learners with autism' which includes eight examples of how colleges across England are supporting learners with autism by implementing the points in the College Inclusion Charter.

TreeHouse School receives ‘outstanding’ rating in Ofsted inspection

TreeHouse School has been rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. TreeHouse School is provided by the national charity for children and young people with autism Ambitious about Autism.

Ambitious about Autism joins the Care and Support Alliance

This autumn Ambitious about Autism joined the Care and Support Alliance. The Alliance is a consortium of over 50 organisations that represent and support older and disabled people, including disabled children, those with long-term conditions and their families, and campaigns to keep adult care funding and reform on the political agenda.

Finished at School supporters’ call on apprenticeships is heard

Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson says he is ‘minded to’ change government policy to ensure young disabled people on apprenticeships can benefit from the support of an Education Health and Care Plan.

Ambitious about Autism and Rapha Racing to resurrect classic Bordeaux-Paris cycle race

In September 2013, Ambitious about Autism and Rapha will join forces with Rapha Racing to resurrect the classic cycle race Bordeaux-Paris as a 24 hour cycle challenge. Find out how to register.

Youth Patron Luke Dicker helps Lloyds Banking Group launch initiative to support disabled customers

Luke Dicker, Ambitious about Autism Youth Patron, helped launch a technological initiative to make banking easier for people with disabilities in the House of Parliament earlier this month.

Youth Patrons photography masterclass to launch new creative project

Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Patrons attended an exciting creative session to launch their photography project on Saturday 20 October. The Youth Patrons are participating in the project to show the world what autism means to them and how having autism affects their lives.

Youth Patron photography masterclass review by Genevieve Fletcher

The day began with a look at inspirational and iconic images brought in by the Youth Patrons, Kayte and all those who attended. Youth Patrons were each given a camera with the ability to use both automatic and manual settings, and were shown how to use them with the benefit of many helpful tips.

Night of Ambition raises £216,310 for autism

A huge thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Night of Ambition auction and gave so generously. The event, held at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London, was a huge success with £216,310 raised for children and young people with autism.

Ambitious about Autism at Conservative Party Conference

Last week Ambitious about Autism’s policy team attended the Conservative Party Conference . The team met with a number of MPs to talk about the draft Children and Families Bill as well as update them on our Finished at School campaign.

Take action: Ask your MP to improve rights for young disabled people!

We need your help to get MPs to push for the strongest possible rights to support for young disabled people leaving school. Currently just 1 in 4 young people with autism go on to any education beyond school. Just 15% of adults with autism are in full-time paid work.

Lord Touhig visits Ambitious about Autism

Ambitious about Autism and TreeHouse School were delighted to welcome Lord Touhig who visited this week. Lord Touhig had a tour of the school and learned about some of the vocational opportunities open to TreeHouse School pupils.

Ambitious about Autism helps launch guide to internet safety

Ambitious about Autism has worked with the charities Cerebra and Mencap to launch a new guide for parents to help keep their children with a learning disability or autism safe online.

Results of our September 2012 website satisfaction survey

In September, we launched a survey on our website to ask visitors to give us their feedback about it. A big thank you to everyone who filled it in for us. Now you can read the results.

Read our Youth Patron's Report From Liberal Democrat Party Conference

Ambitious about Autism Youth Patron Cerys Evans writes about attending Liberal Democrat Conference

Listen to 'Re-thinking Autism' - A panel discussion on the DSM 5 changes

Last night Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, spoke at the Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE) panel discussion entitled ‘Re-thinking autism: Changes to the diagnostic criteria and their implications’.

Parent Patron Matt Davis launches new autism blog

Ambitious about Autism Parent Patron Matt Davis is writing a new blog about what it is like raising a child with autism.

Autism education Competency Framework launched

Ambitious about Autism has supported the development of the Autism Education Trust training programme which is currently being rolled out to schools across England. A key part of the programme is the development of a Competency Framework for professionals working with children and young people with autism aged 5 – 16 years old.

Opportunity to tender: Evaluate our transition project

We are looking to appoint a consultant to evaluate the reach and impact of our transition project.

Ambitious about Autism launches new Schools Report 2012

Ambitious about Autism has brought together a range of key statistics that illustrate how schools are performing for children and young people with autism in 2012.

Take our survey into services for young children with autism

The Institute of Education’s Centre for Research in Autism and Education, which Ambitious about Autism co-founded, is helping conduct a Europe-wide survey of services received by young children with autism and their families.

Ambitious about Autism Youth Patron meets MPs at Liberal Democrat conference

Ambitious about Autism Youth Patron Cerys Evans attended the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton yesterday, to help raise awareness of autism among MPs and councillors.

Read the transcript of our live online Q & A with Daniel Tammet

Daniel Tammet, bestselling author and autistic savant, took part in a live online Q & A with Talk about Autism on 20 September 2012. Read the transcript.

Presenter Sarah Cawood helps Ambitious about Autism celebrate its 15th birthday

Ambitious about Autism Ambassador and presenter Sarah Cawood officially launched our 15th birthday walk on Saturday 15 September 2012.

Nicky Clark: Woodfer’s World Q&A

Our Q & A with Ambitious about Autism Parent Patron and disability campaigner Nicky Clark on why she is supporting our anti-bullying resource Woodfer's World.

TalkTalk Business bike ride raises £13,000 for Ambitious about Autism

Enthusiastic cyclists from business telecom provider TalkTalk Business have raised £13,000 for Ambitious about Autism. Ambitious about Autism has worked in partnership with TalkTalk since 2002 and the sponsored ride is part of the company’s ‘Give Something Back’ scheme to encourage staff to volunteer to help charities.

Giving evidence to MPs about Special Educational Needs Reforms

The Education Select Committee, a group of MPs from all political parties, will be looking at the draft clauses of the Children and Families Bill that relate to special educational needs and are asking for evidence to help them scrutinise the reforms.

Ambitious about Autism response to Children and Families Bill Draft Clauses

The Department for Education has published draft legislation to reform provision for children with Special Educational Needs. Read our response and tell us what you think.

Parent Patron Nicky Clark launches new anti-bullying teaching resource Woodfer's World

Nicky Clark, Parent Patron of Ambitious about Autism, is today launching a new anti-bullying teaching resource to help stop children with hidden disabilities being bullied at school.

Read the transcript: Seth Mnookin discusses autism and MMR in online Q & A

Seth Mnookin, author of The Panic Virus: The True Story Behind the Vaccine-Autism Controversy, took part in an online Q & A on our online community Talk about Autism on 15 August 2012. He answered questions about his book and the history of the autism and MMR vaccine debate.

Parent Patron Sally Bercow interviewed in Woman’s Own

Sally Bercow, Ambitious about Autism’s Parent Patron, has been interviewed for Woman’s Own Summer Special magazine about having a son with autism and what the family do for their holidays.

Ambitious about Autism supports the Every Child in Need campaign

Ambitious about Autism is supporting the Every Child in Need campaign following the Government’s proposals to change the legal framework protecting the assessment of vulnerable children in need. All children with disabilities are legally classified as children in need.

Youth Patron helps National Theatre autism play

Ambitious about Autism Youth Patron Cian Binchy met some of the cast of the National Theatre’s play about autism, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, to tell them about his life and his perspective on having autism.

TreeHouse School celebrates 15th birthday in style

TreeHouse School, Ambitious about Autism’s specialist education service, celebrated its 15th birthday today. The special occasion was marked with a celebration for parents and staff and a birthday party for pupils, including face painting and wellington boot throwing.