Autism Diagnoses Are Rising—Support Isn’t
Why is autism diagnosis on the rise, and what support exists post-diagnosis?
Autism diagnoses are increasing but services aren’t keeping up. Families face years-long waits for assessments, and once diagnosed, support is often non-existent. Schools are unprepared, workplaces are inflexible, and adult services barely function. A label means nothing if it’s not backed by understanding, accommodation, and real care.
Why are waiting times so long?
Despite rising diagnoses, systems haven’t kept up.
Local NHS and education services are stretched to breaking point. Autism assessments are capped by capacity, and where you live dictates how long you’ll wait. It’s not about need. It’s about budget.
Why it matters: A delayed diagnosis means delayed support- in school, healthcare, and daily life. Children miss critical interventions. Families are left in limbo. And the longer the wait, the deeper the long-term impact.
Why are families left to figure it all out alone?
Because the system ends at diagnosis.
Families are often given a label but no roadmap. No care plan, no caseworker, no emotional support. You're sent home with life-changing news and expected to navigate complex services, funding applications, and educational battles entirely on your own. It's not just neglect; it's systemic abandonment dressed up as “awareness.”
What happens after diagnosis?
For many families, nothing. Diagnosis doesn’t guarantee access to services. CAMHS is overloaded, educational settings are rarely trained, and families are expected to self-navigate complex systems just to access the basics.
Quick Stats
✦ Over 200,000 people in England were awaiting an autism assessment in late 2024... 90% of them beyond the 13-week NHS guideline. That’s a 23% rise from the year before.
✦ Children wait an average of 9–10 months just to be seen. Adults typically wait even longer- often over a year for that first step.
✦ In some areas, the wait for a full diagnostic report drags on for 4–5 years, delaying vital care, support, and educational access.
What YOU can do right now:
Petitions
Demand faster diagnosis and better post-diagnostic support. Here’s a petition on Change.org that's pushing for better NHS access and still gathering momentum. Once a petition gets to 100k signatures it is debated in Parliament, so sign & share!
Email your MP
Share your wait-time story and don't hold back. Petition-driven MP debates in the past have shown that this really does work. Use this quick MP email tool to call for reform. Personal stories help them understand the reality beyond numbers.
Support Charities
The National Autistic Society, Autistica and Ambitious About Autism are all charities that work to boost tailored research and lobbying. Give them a look & help support the cause.
Accountability
Support campaigns that push Ofsted, local authorities, and NHS trusts to publish wait times and service stats like this one right here. Visibility drives pressure... and, eventually, reform.
What does this have to do with Art?
These delays aren’t just statistics — they’re stories. Years in limbo leave families anxious, children misunderstood, and support out of reach.
At NotFine, we believe the emotional toll of waiting, fighting, and being dismissed deserves space. Our gallery exists because pain like this doesn’t always show up in words. But it does in art. This is what we’re fighting for: recognition, reform, and the right to be seen.