History

The Hoffmann Foundation began as Noah's Ark school in 1953 under our late president Alice Hoffmann de Visme MBE, trained in Froebel methods of education. She developed a particular interest in the problems of children who, in those days, were considered backward especially those who were excluded from mainstream school many from ethnic minorities. These children today would be diagnosed as severely disabled with varying degrees of Autism, almost all had no speech.

The 1972 Education Act led to the formation of special schools run by the LEAs (Local Education Authority) and the need for services moved to providing for these children as they grew up. Many of Alice's children had to go into long stay hospitals or live at home with great strain on their families. Noah's Ark then became the Hoffmann Day Centre, in the same building in Wood Green as today.

A small group of parents decided to start a new charity, known as Alice Hoffmann Homes, to provide residential care as an alternative to long stay hospitals. Together with Quadrant Housing Association they opened the first special needs house in London in 1986 which allowed the children to move back nearer their parents.

In 1997 the two Hoffmann charities merged, adopting the Hoffmann de Visme Foundation, a name which in 2004 was simplified to our present title Hoffmann Foundation for Autism

The objects of the Foundation are to "improve the quality of life for adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder by providing community based services as an alternative to life in long stay institutions"

In fulfilling our objectives we provide a range of services these include; day services, supported living, residential & outreach services, counselling psychology, assessments/consultations, autism & asperger training etc.