After diagnosis programme
Our After Diagnosis Programme supports autistic and neurodivergent adults following a recent diagnosis.
Support at a pivotal time in your Autism diagnosis journey
Our After Diagnosis Programme supports autistic adults following a recent diagnosis. Referrals can be made from social care, the police, hospitals, and GP services, friends and family or the person who has been diagnosed.
The programme includes support with:
- Understanding your autism diagnosis
- Recognising your strengths and individual differences
- Developing practical coping strategies for everyday life
- Exploring sensory needs and managing sensory overload
- Understanding emotional overload, stress, and anxiety
- Support and advice around relationships and communication
- Executive functioning challenges such as organisation, planning, and routines
What can the programme do for me?
Participants consistently report reduced anxiety, increased confidence, and improved long-term wellbeing, helping them move forward with greater understanding, self-acceptance, and resilience.
They report that they can cope better with their autism, and that they are able to use different strategies to help with shutdowns, sensory overload and meltdowns.
Reduced anxiety
We know that anxiety and depression often go hand in hand with autism so knowing that our After Diagnosis Programme reduces anxiety is a real benefit.
Increased confidence
Most people who go through the After Diagnosis Programme report that they have more confidence at the end. Confidence that they understand their autism better and can cope with it more easily. As one of our clients said “DASH has given me back my voice”.
Improved long-term wellbeing
DASH cannot change your diagnosis. If you are autistic, you will still be autistic after going through our programme. But we hope that it will help you see your strengths and how to use them to your advantage.
Our process:
Following a referral, we meet with the person either in one of our Sanford House meeting rooms or online if preferred. We find out a bit more about the person, about their diagnosis and what challenges they are having with their autism. And we find out the best times to meet to run the programme. The person can invite a friend or family member to come with them if they like.
We aim to have at least 3 sessions, of around an hour each time. During those meetings we will look at what it means to be autistic, what someone’s strengths are and what they are finding doesn’t work well. Together we’ll agree some strategies for coping.
At the end of the programme we give out a folder containing all the things we have talked through so someone has a plan to go forward with. If you think this might help you or someone you know, complete our contact form.
Because every autistic person is different, so is every programme. But there are some common themes:
- Understanding your autism and neurodivergent identity
- Recognising your strengths and individual differences
- Developing practical coping strategies for everyday life
Some other elements that may be looked at include:
- Exploring sensory needs and managing sensory overload
- Understanding emotional overload, stress, and anxiety
- Support and advice around relationships and communication
- Executive functioning challenges such as organisation, planning, and routines
We will agree times and dates to meet up. We will ask you to confirm that you are happy for us to store some information about you on our system so that we can build up your programme week by week.
We prefer to meet you face to face, and you can bring a friend or family member with you if you like. If you don’t want to meet in person, we can run the programme over the internet or on the telephone.
One of our Autism Advisors will work through the programme with you. There are lots of opportunities for you to ask questions, or check you have understood. It’s a very informal and friendly setting.
At the end of the journey, each individual receives a comprehensive personalised pack containing everything discussed during their sessions — including strategies, resources, and key information — to support their ongoing wellbeing and independence.
Unsure if we can support you?
Whether you’re looking for support, want to volunteer, or are interested in fundraising or partnerships — there’s a place for you here. Join us in building a more inclusive Swindon for autistic people and their families.
Lived experience at the heart of what we do
Navigating adulthood can be complex — especially without the right support. At DASH, we work alongside autistic adults to help them better understand their needs, build confidence, and access the services and opportunities that matter to them. Our support is person-centred, respectful, and shaped by lived experience.
“Who knew? The difference between shutdowns & meltdowns”
“I have recently gone through the After Diagnosis Programme. I learnt the difference between shutdowns and meltdowns, I learnt that not everyone ‘is a little bit autistic’ that was so important to me and validated my diagnosis which I had to wait 3 years for. The course has made me more confident at work and I can talk to people at work now without massive anxiety. I have also used the techniques I learned at my card club and I now enjoy it much more and can stay for the whole session as I take sensory breaks and I know that ok now !”
“I'm much more knowledgeable about my autism"
“I did the 3 week program with DASH , If I am honest I did not know what to expect and wasn’t expecting to much. However I really enjoyed it and found it helpful.
I am now much more knowledgeable about my autism , I am volunteering in a cafe and I have joined one of the social groups where I hope to find friendships ”
What else can DASH help you with?
Test
Approx 30 words Do you want to know more about our services or maybe how you can support us? Fill in the form and a member of the team will get back to you.