It is important that health care providers and policy makers acknowledge that many people with ASD have special needs which may require modification of standard health care practices and service models in order to cope with the peculiar difficulties of persons with ASD.

Detecting warning signs and treating health problems in persons with ASD can be  difficult, because of the social and communication impairments, the frequently associated sensory abnormalities, the adaptive difficulties, the challenging behaviours, as well as fear and anxiety that physical assessment, diagnostic imaging, and a variety of other interventions  may induce in people with ASD. Reasonable adjustments of the health care and individual skilled support during hospitalisation or day care should be provided.

This toolkit develops the previous documents of Autism–Europe on health issues. The present document is not intended to advise on how quality health and habilitation services for persons with ASD can be developed. It can, however, provide some ideas that can be useful to anyone wishing to advocate for the right to healthcare and habilitation of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as to provide parents with some information that can help them to get the best possible care for their children with ASD.