The Needs Project: a Study of Autistic Children’s Educational and Family Needs

What we want to find out

We are conducting a research study to better understand the factors that may lead to educational challenges for some autistic children. 

This research aims to identify specific support needs and the factors contributing to challenges they experience in various settings, with the goal of developing targeted support. 

Why we’re doing this research

Some autistic children encounter significant barriers in educational settings. They may also experience difficulties managing and thriving in day-to-day environments such as at home, in the community, and when accessing leisure activities.  

These challenges can be understood as unmet needs. We’re aiming to gain a clear and detailed understanding of these specific needs, and to identify which aspects of the child’s profile, family experience, and the environmental setting have the biggest impact on well-being and successful inclusion.  

Community engagement with autistic individuals and parents confirms this is a critical area for research and has informed our survey focus. 

Method

This study is a survey of adult parents and carers of autistic children between 7 and 16 years old. The survey should take up to 90 minutes to complete and uses a mixture of question types, including multiple-choice and optional free-text responses. 

If you choose to participate, you’ll be asked to complete a detailed survey about your child’s: 

• Educational abilities and experiences 

• Functional abilities and experiences 

• Emotional wellbeing and behaviour 

• Engagement with leisure pursuits 

• Family experiences 

We will also ask about caregiver wellbeing and your experiences as a parent/carer, and the adequacy of the support you receive. 

Please note: This survey includes questions about mental health, trauma, and well-being which may be uncomfortable. 

If you feel distressed or are concerned about your safety, please seek help immediately. The project team cannot provide individual crisis support. We urge you to reach out to your existing supports or one of the resources below: 

Take part in this project

If you would like to participate in this research, you can read more about the study here and access the questionnaire by following this link:  

https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2rEZ9H62h5aghPo

Community engagement

We have consulted with parent/carers of autistic children through a focus group. Some of the parent/carers consulted are themselves autistic. We discussed together the aim and purpose of the research, and the potential value of findings. There was a steer to include parent/carer wellbeing and mental health as a focus which was adopted. Members of the group reviewed the complete survey and offered insight and suggestions on the overall structure and wording of questions.  

Potential impact  

By participating, you will help improve the understanding of the specific needs of autistic children and their parents/carers. This knowledge may lead to better support, services, and awareness for these children and their families. 

The research will be shared at conferences and published in academic journals with the aim of directly influencing service delivery and the development of support designed to meet the identified needs. 

Results

We anticipate sharing the results in Autumn 2026. When ready, the key findings will be shared on this page. 

Funding

This study is made possible thanks to existing grants held by the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge. The principal investigator’s employment is funded by North East London NHS Foundation Trust. 

Staff:

• Dr Jenny Parker
• Dr Holan Liang
• Professor Carrie Allison
• Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen