Support, Resources & Practical Guidance
How to get assessed, EHCP and IDP guidance, legal rights, Access to Work, PIP, university support and driving — for individuals, families, schools and young people, across England and Wales.
Where do I start?
Choose whichever feels closest to where you are right now.
I need support with neurodiversity
A plain-English guide for England & Wales — pathways, templates and evidence
Whether you think you may be autistic, have ADHD, a learning difference, or are supporting a child, this guide walks through the assessment pathway in plain English, with copy-ready templates and evidence checklists.
Autism — next steps
Autism is a different way of thinking and sensing, not a defect. The aim is access, not correction. Many people are identified later in life, particularly women and anyone who learnt early to mask. There is no wrong time to seek understanding.
Evidence to gather
- A one-page impact summary with three to five concrete examples of daily difficulty
- A two to four week diary of experiences and patterns
- School reports, particularly comments on behaviour, concentration or social interaction
- Written observations from a parent, partner or carer
- Any previous assessments or professional letters
ADHD — next steps
ADHD affects attention regulation, impulse control and activation. It is a difference in how the brain prioritises and shifts between tasks — not a character flaw, and not a matter of willpower.
Evidence to gather
- A two to four week impact diary tracking difficulties and patterns
- School reports mentioning concentration, focus or behaviour
- Examples of impact on work, education, relationships and daily living
- Observations from a partner, family member or colleague
Copy-ready templates
GP referral request
For requesting a referral for neurodevelopmental assessment, including Right to Choose wording for England.
Copy template →School adjustments request
For requesting a meeting with a SENCo (England) or ALNCo (Wales) about support, adjustments and assessment.
Copy template →Workplace adjustments request
For requesting reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, with or without a formal diagnosis.
Copy template →Getting assessed
NHS, Right to Choose and private — as things stand in August 2026
England — Right to Choose
- In England you can ask your GP to refer you to any NHS-commissioned provider, not only the local one. This remains a legal right under the NHS Choice Framework
- But it has become much harder to use. Through 2025 and 2026, many Integrated Care Boards introduced funding caps and activity limits, and referrals were paused entirely in at least nine areas
- In affected areas, GPs have been instructed not to process new Right to Choose referrals, and some providers have stopped accepting them by postcode
- ICBs cannot lawfully abolish the right by policy, but they can and do cap the funding behind it
- If you are refused, ask for the reason in writing, and escalate through PALS, your ICB, or a patient choice complaint to NHS England
- Check current provider availability for your postcode before assuming it is open
Wales — the NHS pathway
- Right to Choose does not apply in Wales. Referral is through your GP to the health board pathway
- In North Wales this is Betsi Cadwaladr. Adults are usually referred via the community mental health team or directly to the neurodevelopmental service, depending on locality
- For children: referral via GP, school or health visitor to community paediatrics or S-CAMHS
- Waits vary considerably between health boards and have been long across Wales
- The National Autistic Society Cymru and local ALN services can advise on the current route
See your GP
Bring a written list of specific examples of how this affects daily life. Concrete impacts land better than general description — work, relationships, household tasks, school. Ask directly for a referral for neurodevelopmental assessment, and ask for the outcome in writing.
Ask about Right to Choose
Ask your GP whether Right to Choose referrals are currently being accepted in your ICB area, and to which providers. Check the provider’s own site for postcode availability before the appointment — several have paused intake area by area.
Going private
Faster, but costly — commonly several hundred to a few thousand pounds depending on the assessment type and provider. Check current fees directly. A private diagnosis is accepted for most employer and education purposes, but check whether your GP will enter shared care for medication before you commit, as many now decline.
You do not need a diagnosis to access support
Under the Equality Act 2010 you may be entitled to reasonable adjustments at work or in education without a formal diagnosis, where your difficulties have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities. Support should follow identified need. Self-identification is also valid in community and peer support settings.
EHCPs (England) & IDPs (Wales)
How to apply, what to expect, and what to do if refused
An EHCP is a legally binding document setting out a child’s special educational needs and the support the local authority must provide. In Wales the equivalent is an Individual Development Plan under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018.
Requesting an EHC needs assessment (England)
- A parent, a young person over 16, or a school can request an assessment from the local authority
- Write formally to the SEND team stating that you are requesting an EHC needs assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014
- The LA has six weeks to decide whether to assess
- If refused, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal
- IPSEA provides a free model request letter
The 20-week timeline
- Week 0 — request received
- Week 6 — decision whether to assess
- Week 16 — draft EHCP issued
- Week 20 — final EHCP issued
- Deadlines are frequently missed. Keep dated records of every contact
- Delay beyond the statutory timeline can be challenged through the LA complaints process and then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
You have the right to appeal
- Obtain a mediation certificate — required before tribunal in most cases
- Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND)
- IPSEA and SOS!SEN offer free support with appeals
- A high proportion of appeals succeed. Being refused first time is common and is not the end of it
- Note there are strict time limits — usually two months from the decision. Do not let it drift
Individual Development Plans
- Wales replaced Statements of SEN with IDPs, phased in from September 2021. All remaining Statements should have transferred by August 2025
- Children and young people with ALN from 0–25 are entitled to an IDP
- For most learners the school maintains the IDP; the local authority does so for more complex needs
- Appeals go to the Education Tribunal for Wales, not the SEND Tribunal
- The number of learners identified with ALN in Wales has fallen sharply since the reforms, and the Welsh Government has launched a review. If your child has lost support during transfer, that is worth challenging
- SNAP Cymru provides free advocacy for families in Wales
IPSEA
Free, legally based advice for families in England. Model letters, tribunal support and training.
ipsea.org.uk →SOS!SEN
Free SEND helpline and support for parents navigating EHCPs, tribunals and local authority disputes.
sossen.org.uk →SNAP Cymru
Free advocacy and support for children and young people with ALN and their families in Wales.
snapcymru.org →Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
EBSA describes school avoidance driven by anxiety, overwhelm or sensory and social distress — not defiance and not laziness. It is common in neurodivergent children, particularly those who have been masking successfully at school until they cannot any longer.
Why it happens
- Sensory overload in an overwhelming environment
- The demands of navigating unwritten social rules
- Exhaustion from masking across the school day
- Previous bullying, misunderstanding or negative experience
- Anxiety about academic performance or failure
- A mismatch between the child’s needs and what school provides
What helps
- Avoid punitive approaches — fines and pressure increase anxiety and worsen avoidance
- Prioritise safety and connection before attendance targets
- Reduce demand gradually and collaboratively with the child
- Address the unmet need underneath — sensory adjustments, social support, anxiety
- Involve the SENCo or ALNCo and request a multi-agency meeting
- Ask the local authority for its EBSA guidance — most now have one
Neurodivergent people are protected under UK law
Neurodivergent people are frequently told they are misunderstanding discrimination — at work, in education, and in healthcare. The Equality Act 2010 provides clear, enforceable protections.
Equality Act 2010
- Autism and ADHD will usually meet the definition of disability where they have a substantial, long-term adverse effect on day-to-day activities
- Protection from direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and failure to make reasonable adjustments
- A formal diagnosis is not always required — what matters is the effect, not the label
- Employment tribunal time limit: three months less one day, with ACAS early conciliation first
Reasonable adjustments
- Employers and education providers must make reasonable adjustments — flexible working, extra time, quiet space, written instructions
- England: the SEND Code of Practice 2015 sets out statutory duties for schools and local authorities
- Wales: the ALN Code sets out the equivalent duties
- Acas provides free workplace guidance on neurodiversity
Specialist legal & advocacy organisations
Disability Rights UK
National charity run by and for disabled people. Factsheets on rights, benefits and employment, and information on the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments.
disabilityrightsuk.org →Disability Law Service
Specialist legal charity providing free advice to disabled people on discrimination, employment, benefits appeals, social care and reasonable adjustments.
dls.org.uk →Citizens Advice
Free advice on discrimination, employment, benefits and housing, with offices across England and Wales.
citizensadvice.org.uk →Law Centres Network
Free specialist legal advice and representation on discrimination, education, housing and employment for those who qualify.
lawcentres.org.uk →Your trade union
If you are a union member, your union should support you with workplace adjustments, disclosure and discrimination. Most publish neurodiversity guidance and will represent you in meetings. Contact your own union rather than a general number.
Equality Advisory and Support Service
The government-funded helpline for individuals experiencing discrimination in England, Scotland and Wales. Free advice on rights under the Equality Act.
equalityadvisoryservice.com →Access to Work
Access to Work provides grants to help disabled and neurodivergent people start or stay in work. Many people have never heard of it. It can fund coaching, assistive technology, support workers and adaptations.
What it can fund
- ADHD or autism workplace coaching
- Assistive technology — screen readers, speech-to-text, noise-cancelling headphones
- Mental health support
- A support worker or job coach
- Adaptations to workspace or equipment
Applying
- Apply online at gov.uk/access-to-work
- Available to employees and self-employed people
- A formal diagnosis is not always required
- Your employer does not need to be involved in the initial application
- Waiting times for assessment and payment have been long — apply early and keep records
PIP & financial support
What you may be entitled to, and how to claim it
Many neurodivergent adults are entitled to Personal Independence Payment but either do not apply, or are refused because assessors do not understand how these conditions affect daily functioning.
Describe your worst day, not your best
PIP asks how you manage a range of daily activities. The most common mistake is describing what you can do, rather than what it costs you to do it and how unreliably you manage it.
- Describe the impact on a bad day, not a good one
- Describe what actually happens when you attempt each activity — the anxiety, the exhaustion, the shutdown, the abandoning of it halfway
- Include the cost: sensory overwhelm, emotional dysregulation, executive function failure
- Reliability matters. “I can do it sometimes” is not the same as being able to do it repeatedly, safely and in a reasonable time — and the rules take account of that
- Gather supporting evidence: GP letter, diagnosis letter, any professional reports
What PIP covers
- Daily living — self-care, preparing food, managing medication, communicating, engaging with others, managing money
- Mobility — getting around, including where the barrier is psychological distress rather than physical
- You do not need to be housebound or have a physical condition to qualify
- PIP is not means-tested and is not affected by savings or earnings
- Note: eligibility rules have been the subject of active political debate. Check the current criteria on gov.uk before applying
If you are refused
- Request a Mandatory Reconsideration, normally within one month of the decision
- If still refused, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Success rates at tribunal are high
- Citizens Advice, Disability Rights UK and local welfare rights services can help, free
- Ask for a copy of the assessment report — it often contains the reasoning you need to challenge
Citizens Advice
Free advice on PIP, Universal Credit and all benefits, with local offices and a national service.
citizensadvice.org.uk →Disability Rights UK
Factsheets and advice on disability benefits and rights.
disabilityrightsuk.org →gov.uk — PIP
The official guidance and application route, and the place to check current eligibility rules.
gov.uk/pip →University & Disabled Students’ Allowance
Neurodivergent students in higher education are entitled to DSA — funding many students never hear about.
Support available
- Assistive technology — text-to-speech, speech-to-text, mind-mapping software
- Specialist ADHD or autism mentoring, and study skills support
- Adapted library resources and alternative format materials
- Travel costs where standard transport is inaccessible
- Exam adjustments are arranged separately, through your university’s disability service
The process
- Apply through Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales, ideally before your course starts
- You need evidence — a diagnosis letter, GP letter or educational psychologist report
- You will have a Study Needs Assessment to identify what would help
- Suppliers are then arranged to provide equipment and support
- Your university disability service can help you through it
- DSA does not have to be repaid
Driving & the DVLA
There may be a legal duty to tell the DVLA about a neurodevelopmental condition. The rules turn on whether the condition affects your ability to drive safely — not simply on having a diagnosis. Getting it wrong can invalidate your insurance.
The test
- You must tell the DVLA if a condition affects your ability to drive safely, or if it worsens
- Having ADHD or being autistic does not in itself disqualify anyone from driving
- Medication is relevant where it affects alertness, concentration or reaction
- Not notifying when required is a criminal offence and can invalidate insurance
- Being reviewed by the DVLA is not the same as losing your licence — most people continue driving
What to do
- Check the current position on the gov.uk health conditions A–Z, which lists what must be reported for each condition
- Discuss with your GP or prescriber whether they consider your condition or medication affects driving
- If genuinely uncertain, notify — the risk of not notifying is greater than the risk of notifying
- The DVLA may request a report from your GP or specialist
- Keep a copy of anything you send
Local assessment pathways
North Wales, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin
Betsi Cadwaladr
Covers Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey. Referral is through your GP; Right to Choose does not apply.
- Adults: GP referral into the health board pathway. Route varies by locality — ask your GP which service covers your area
- Children: GP, school or health visitor referral to community paediatrics or S-CAMHS
- SNAP Cymru provides free ALN advocacy across Wales
- C.A.L.L. Wales, 0800 132 737, free and 24/7, can signpost while you wait
Midlands Partnership (MPFT)
Neurodevelopmental services are provided by MPFT. Referral through your GP.
- Adults: GP referral to the MPFT neurodevelopmental service
- Children and young people 0–25: BeeU, the emotional wellbeing and mental health service, which includes neurodevelopmental assessment
- Right to Choose: available in principle, but check current ICB position and provider availability for your postcode first
- Urgent mental health support, 24/7: 0808 196 4501
For young people
Resources written for children and young people — accessible, honest, and free of jargon.
Understanding your neurodivergent brain
A guide to what autism, ADHD and other learning differences actually mean — and why your brain is not broken, just wired differently.
Getting support at school
What your rights are, what an EHCP or IDP means, how to talk to teachers, and what to do if school isn’t working for you.
Parents, carers & individuals
Practical guidance, evidence workbooks and support tools
The workbooks below are designed to help you build a clear, dated record of daily impact — the evidence that referrals, assessments and EHCP or IDP requests actually turn on. Request any of them by email.
What every parent & professional should understand
Communication, expectations and support strategies for neurodivergent children and adults — adapting environments, reducing conflict, building on strengths.
Request by email →Autism evidence workbook — parents
A guided workbook for recording daily examples, triggers, patterns and impact. Useful for appointments, referrals and EHCP or IDP processes.
Request by email →ADHD evidence workbook — parents
The same structured approach for ADHD — supporting evidence gathering for assessment and school support planning.
Request by email →Universal self-help guide — coping strategies
Practical strategies covering sensory regulation, emotional dysregulation, routines, executive function support and self-advocacy.
Request by email →Neurodivergent legal rights guide
The Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments in work and education, and how to challenge discrimination.
Request by email →For schools, colleges & early years
Evidence templates, classroom toolkits and professional guidance
ADHD evidence workbook — schools
Evidence-gathering template aligned with education support planning. Helps staff record observations, triggers and patterns for EHCP or IDP processes.
Request by email →Autism evidence workbook — schools
The equivalent template for autism — structured observation and documentation for assessment and multi-agency meetings.
Request by email →Autism-friendly classroom toolkit
Classroom strategies, sensory adjustments, communication supports and behaviour-as-communication guidance for teachers, TAs, SENCos and ALNCos.
Request by email →Early years neurodiversity guide
For early years practitioners supporting neurodivergent children aged 0–5 — sensory differences, communication, transitions and working with families.
Request by email →Solihull Approach
An NHS-developed, evidence-based model helping adults understand behaviour as communication, drawing on child development, attachment theory and neuroscience.
Read more →All resources by NAAVoices.com — survivor-led, trauma-informed, evidence-informed. Last reviewed 13 August 2026.
