Autism Resource Directory

The Autism Resource Directory (ARD), funded by NHS England, will create a comprehensive online resource, offering a centralised platform that meets the specific needs of autistic trans and gender-diverse individuals and their families.

This resource will provide information, articles, videos, and support resources, empowering individuals with the knowledge needed for informed decision-making and to improve the quality of care.

Autistic individuals who identify as trans and gender diverse face unique challenges that can significantly impact their overall health and well-being. To address these challenges and improve health outcomes, GIRES aims to develop this resource directory to provide a central, easily accessible hub for guidance and support tailored to the specific needs of autistic gender-diverse individuals.

The ARD will supply individuals and organisations working with them with resources that foster self-advocacy, informed decision-making, and a sense of belonging.

Community engagement project

When developing the ARD, we aimed to:

• Collaborate closely with autistic trans and gender diverse individuals to understand their unique challenges, needs, and aspirations.
• Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions to capture diverse perspectives.
• Approach advisory boards to ensure that the project is co-designed and reflects the community’s voices and priorities.

Please read our initial Community Engagement report, which outlines the engagement results and our priority theme areas for the resource.

Document: GIRES ARD Community Engagement Initial Report 202508 (PDF, 640KB)