The UK National Police Autism Association (NPAA) is delighted to announce our programme for World Autism Awareness Week, from 26^th March to 2^nd April 2018. Pioneered by the National Autistic Society, WAAW is a chance aims to put a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism – and others living with autism – face every day.

This year we will be focusing on the staff who work in policing in the UK who either have a diagnosis themselves or who have friends and family on the autism spectrum. We have guest blogs from police officers who have autism, and we’ll be publishing an article from JPMorgan Chase, a great example of an innovative autism-friendly employer. We’ll be putting up new blogs throughout they week, and we will be active on Twitter and other social media. Look for us using the hashtag #WAAW.

Autism awareness has come a long way, but there’s still more to be done. We want policing to be seen as a career of choice for autistic people by highlighting the significant contribution made by those with autism to keep people safe. We also want to help the autistic community as a whole to better understand the role of the police, to ensure that autistic people have a positive experience when they come into contact with us.

About us: The NPAA is an independent body supporting UK police officers, staff and volunteers who are affected by autism spectrum condition (ASC), Asperger syndrome, and other neurodiverse conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and depression – either personally or as carers for family members. We welcome all police personnel with a personal or professional interest in these conditions.