Autism Friendly Charter

How does the Autism Friendly Charter benefit the autism community?

The Autism Friendly Charter is designed to help businesses and organisations understand autism and show them how small changes to their operating environment could increase participation from people on the autism spectrum, their families and carers.

According to the 2018 Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, only around 4% of the more than 200,000 people in Australia on the spectrum believe that businesses, organisations and venues across the country understand autism, or know how to support individuals on the autism spectrum through the provision of autism-friendly places and services.

By signing up to the Autism Friendly Charter, businesses can play a crucial role in creating a more inclusive community for all, ensuring that people on the autism spectrum are able to enjoy services and participate in activities without the experience negatively impacting on wellbeing.

How does the Autism Friendly Charter benefit businesses and organisations?

The Autism Friendly Charter is a free online learning platform that gives advice and guidance to businesses and organisations about how to be more inclusive, and in so doing demonstrates their commitment to a socially inclusive community.

Any business can join no matter where in Australia they are located, and the training will help to increase an organisation’s autism awareness and guide its transition to an autism-friendly environment. It will also show how small adjustments to the way in which they operate can significantly increase participation from people on the autism spectrum.

The range of businesses that have signed up to the Autism Friendly Charter include:

• Sports clubs
• Cinemas
• Supermarkets
• Shopping centres
• Playgrounds
• Restaurants
• Dentists
• Doctors
• Hairdressers
• Swimming pools
• Recreation centres
• Museums
• Driver education centres

The Autism Friendly app

The Autism Friendly app is designed to help people on the spectrum and their families to discover places and spaces that are committed to supporting an inclusive society.

Free to download and install on a smartphone or tablet, the Autism Friendly app can be used to find places to eat and drink, recreation facilities, or retail spaces that are committed to inclusion anywhere in Australia.

The listings provide all the information you need to help you choose autism friendly businesses and service providers, including services such as designated quiet times, autism aware staff, calm spaces and much more.

How to download the Autism Friendly app

The Autism Friendly app is available free for iOS and Android users.