Caroline Stevens has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society and will be joining the charity in November. Caroline will be joining the charity after six years serving as Chief Executive of KIDS.
Caroline has personal experience of autism, as the mother of a young, autistic man, which means that she has a deep understanding of the challenges facing autistic people and the need for both practical support and guidance and long-lasting change in public understanding, practice and policy.
Dr Carol Homden CBE, Chair of the National Autistic Society said:
“I am delighted to be welcoming Caroline Stevens as the National Autistic Society’s new Chief Executive on behalf of our charity’s board of trustees, and all our supporters, staff and volunteers.
“Caroline will be joining our charity in November. Her exceptional experience as a leader in the charity and health sectors, combined with her own direct experience supporting her autistic son and as a member of our charity for 20 years, means she brings both new insight and grounded understanding of the day-to-day experiences of autistic people and their families to lead our charity for the future.
“As we recognise the progress and remaining challenges 10 years after the Autism Act, we look forward to working with Caroline and our dedicated management team, staff and volunteers to build on and increase our impact – both through the education, support and advice we provide directly and our influence on policy, practice and public understanding of autism – in order to realise our vision of a society that works for autistic people.”