Deadline for nominations to annual Autism Professionals Awards extended

The deadline for nominations to the 2016 Autism Professionals Awards has been extended to Friday 13 November 2015.  

The National Autistic Society (NAS) event aims to encourage good autism practice by recognising individuals and services who are making a difference to people on the autism spectrum and their families, or doing innovative work in this area.

There are 13 categories for professionals, volunteers, services and projects across education, social care, and for the first time health and employment. All entries will be judged by a panel of autism experts from a range of professional backgrounds across the UK.

Nominations for the fourth annual awards were originally scheduled to close on 30 October but the NAS has extended the deadline to give people more time to respond. Shortlisted candidates will be announced in January, ahead of the awards ceremony at the Autism Professional Conference on 1 March 2016 in Telford.

Highlights from the 2015 awards included Julia Malkin MBE and Robyn Steward jointly winning the Award for Outstanding Achievement by an Individual on the Autism Spectrum; Julia, in recognition of her efforts to improve the prospects of autistic adults around Leicester through the specialist driving school she runs; Robyn, for her tireless work campaigning and improving understanding of the condition as an autism consultant, artist and musician. The awards also recognise the vital role of volunteers like Kate Laine-Toner who founded Bristol Autism Support for local families affected by autism and schemes like Scottish Autism’s Gartinny Conservation Project which won Most Creative Community Project award.

Carol Povey, Director of the National Autistic Society’s Centre for Autism, said: “Support and services for people on the autism spectrum have improved markedly over the past 20 years, although they still aren’t nearly as widespread or as good as they need to be. This is why it’s so important to recognise and share good practice where it is happening – and there are indeed many individuals and services doing innovative work and going that extra mile for people on the spectrum and their families.

“We want to hear about these inspirational services and individuals so we share them with the autism professional community when we bring it together for the Autism Professionals Awards in March.

“Autism can have a profound effect on individuals and families but the right support from passionate and caring people can make all the difference. We need to recognise the amazing people and teams who provide this support so we can inspire others.”

To find out more about the Autism Professionals Awards 2016 or nominate an individual or service, visit: www.autismprofessionalsawards.org.uk

The extended deadline for nominations is 13 November 2015.