About Us

Our Story

Clinical expertise, personal understanding and a commitment to doing things properly

The Autism Centre was founded by a family with lived experience of autism, bringing together personal understanding and many years of specialist clinical experience.

We understand that seeking an autism assessment is rarely a decision made lightly. For some, it follows years of questions about themselves or their child. For others, it comes after a long period of trying to access appropriate support, navigating waiting lists or feeling that their experiences have not been fully understood.

Our own experiences have helped shape the kind of service we want to provide: one where people are listened to, treated with respect and given the time and attention they deserve.

We believe that a thorough autism assessment should be accessible, compassionate and fairly priced, without compromising the clinical standards that make a diagnostic outcome meaningful.

That belief is at the heart of The Autism Centre.

Experienced Clinical Leadership

Jenny Wombell – Clinical Lead

Jenny Wombell is a highly experienced Speech and Language Therapist who has worked with neurodivergent children, young people and adults since 2006.

Over nearly two decades, Jenny has developed extensive experience in autism assessment, diagnosis and support, working across NHS, local authority and independent services.

One of her significant professional achievements was establishing the West Wales Integrated Autism Service from the ground up, subsequently providing clinical and team leadership across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Her clinical experience extends beyond autism assessment to include complex developmental presentations, attachment and trauma, and the needs of children who are looked after or adopted.

Jenny brings a particularly thorough approach to clinical practice. She believes that diagnostic decisions must be carefully considered, supported by appropriate evidence and reached through a robust clinical process.

For Jenny, maintaining high standards is not simply about following guidance. It is about recognising the responsibility clinicians have to the people and families who place their trust in them.

This approach influences the clinical standards and assessment pathways used throughout The Autism Centre.

HCPC Registration: SL19089

Our Approach to Autism Assessment

Every assessment deserves careful consideration

We recognise that autism can present differently across individuals, ages and circumstances.

Some people have characteristics that are readily recognised. Others may have spent years masking their differences, developing coping strategies or experiencing difficulties that have been attributed to other causes.

Our clinicians draw upon developmental history, structured clinical assessment, information from relevant settings and multidisciplinary discussion to develop a carefully considered understanding of each individual.

We follow relevant NICE guidance and use recognised diagnostic criteria, while recognising that assessment tools must always be interpreted alongside professional clinical judgement.

We do not believe in shortcuts where diagnostic decisions are concerned.

Whether an assessment results in an autism diagnosis or not, our responsibility is to provide an honest, evidence-based conclusion and explain the findings clearly.

Why We Believe Accessibility Matters

High standards should not mean unnecessary barriers

Our lived experience has reinforced the importance of making autism assessment services easier to understand and access.

We know that uncertainty, lengthy waiting times, unfamiliar clinical processes and financial pressures can all make seeking an assessment more difficult.

We therefore aim to provide clear information, appropriate reasonable adjustments, accessible communication and transparent pricing.

We also recognise that receiving a diagnostic outcome is not necessarily the end of someone's journey. Understanding what that outcome means and identifying appropriate next steps can be just as important.

Our aim is to help children, young people and adults gain greater understanding of themselves, their experiences and the support that may be helpful to them.

Looking Ahead

Combining clinical experience with better ways of working

The Autism Centre is committed to developing services that make effective use of technology without losing the human relationships and professional judgement that underpin good clinical care.

By improving how referrals, assessment information and administrative processes are managed, we aim to reduce unnecessary administrative demands and allow experienced clinicians to concentrate on the work that matters most: supporting individuals and undertaking thorough assessments.

Our ambition is straightforward: to provide a clinically robust, compassionate and accessible autism assessment service that people, families and referring professionals can have confidence in.