Current projects

Background

We carried out this research to provide up-to-date evidence on parents’ and carers’ experiences of the autism assessment and diagnosis process. This comes at an important time, alongside ongoing SEND reforms led by the Department for Education, and a prevalence review covering autism, ADHD and mental health led by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The research

We worked with the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) at the University of Birmingham to survey 779 parents and carers of autistic children and young people.

The national survey explored their experiences of the assessment and diagnosis process, including their views on a complementary need led assessment, the strengths and needs assessment.

You can explore our findings below:

• Executive summary - A system at breaking point: parent and carer views of autism assessment and diagnosis (April 2026)
• Full report - A system at breaking point: parent and carer views of autism assessment and diagnosis (April 2026)
   

Background

We carry out research to inform our policy and campaigns work. This helps make sure our messages and recommendations to the public and to government are useful, relevant, and based on up-to-date evidence.  

The research

Most of this research involves short, anonymous surveys or focus groups on specific topics, for example; people’s experiences of education.

You can find out more about the types of research that have shaped our work on the policy and campaigns page.

You can explore some of the key reports that have been informed by this research below.

• Autism in education report (May, 2025)  
• When will we learn: Lost learning (March, 2025)
• Written Off? (November, 2022)
• Past reports

Background

Understanding You, Discovering You is a six-week online course designed with Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Network, our National Services team, academic partners, and clinical psychologists. It helps autistic young people understand autism, explore their autistic identity, and equip them with resources for the future.

The research

We’re working with psychologists, project managers, and autistic researchers from UCL, the University of Bath, the University of York, and the National Autistic Society on a project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Together, we’re researching how practical and beneficial Understanding You, Discovering You is in supporting autistic young people’s transition to adulthood.

The project involves several research phases, which you can learn more about on the Autism Transition to Adulthood Group (ATAG) research page.

You can explore the latest findings and publications from this work here.

Background

Autistic and OK is a peer-led programme for secondary schools that promotes a whole-school approach to mental health.  

Created by Ambitious about Autism in collaboration with Zurich UK and the Z Zurich Foundation, the programme aims to empower autistic youth to take control of their mental health and wellbeing, understand themselves and feel OK.  

The research

The first phase of Autistic and OK has already been evaluated for its impact on autistic pupils, school staff and parents. You can read the programme impact report here.

We’ve now begun Phase 2 (2025 – 2028) in partnership with researchers from the University of Birmingham. This next phase will explore the programme’s impact in more depth through a dedicated piece of research, building on the success and learning from Phase 1.

• Phase 1 - Programme impact report (September, 2025)
• Phase 2 - We’ll share new research findings as they become available from 2025 – 2028.