Health
Looking after your physical health is important but knowing when to ask for help and accessing healthcare settings can be difficult for autistic people due to sensory sensitivities and differing communication styles. The following resources could help.
My Health Passport
‘My Health Passport’ is a resource created by National Autistic Society for autistic people who might need hospital treatment. The passport is designed to help autistic people to communicate their needs to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. It was developed by Baroness Angela Browning – an National Autistic Society Vice President.
If you need help to fill the passport in, please email Jessica.Ellams@dialwestcheshire.org.uk and she can book you an appointment for us to assist you.
Annual Health Checks
Do you have a Learning Disability as well as autism? Everyone with a Learning Disability Aged 14 and older can have an Annual Health Check. Annual Health Checks are important to keep you healthy and are provided by your GP. Simply call your GP to book your appointment.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Equality Act 2010 requires people and organisations to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to minimise the disadvantages that people with disabilities might face compared with their peers and this includes in health settings.
This helpful document from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust gives examples of adjustments that might help you when accessing health appointments and can be used as a template to ask for them.
