Exploring the experiences of women, girls and gender diverse people who are autistic or ADHD in Gloucestershire
Why are we doing this research?
We know that getting the right support can be difficult — especially for girls, women, and gender-diverse young people. Many autistic and ADHD young people face long waits for assessments, struggle to get the help they need in school or from health services, or feel misunderstood because their experiences don’t fit typical expectations.
We’ve also heard that some families have had to seek private assessments, only to face new challenges in accessing support afterwards.
Through this project, we want to listen directly to those affected — to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and how things could be better. Your experiences will help shape a public report with recommendations for improving local services to help push for support that is more inclusive, accessible, and responsive to everyone’s needs.
Key areas we’re exploring:
- Thoughts and feelings on diagnosis and experiences of assessment
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Experiences in education settings
- Friendships, relationships, and belonging
- Moving from children’s to adult services
- Accessing healthcare and community support
How can I take part?
We’d love to hear from you if you are:
- Aged 11–25
- Identify as a girl, woman, or gender diverse person
- Autistic or ADHD — diagnosed or self-identified (you don't need a formal diagnosis)
- Living or accessing support in Gloucestershire
You can get involved by:
- Joining our focus group or creative workshop
- Sharing your experiences online
- Chat with us over the phone, email or social media
Please note, anything you share with us is kept anonymous.
We will be visiting various community centres and groups across Gloucestershire, so keep an eye on our social media for updates. To find out more, give us a call at 0800 652 5193 or email info@healthwatchgloucestershire.co.uk.
If you don't meet the criteria above, we would still really love to hear about your experiences! You can contact us by filling out a form on our website or pop us a message on Instagram or Facebook.
