We have a post diagnosis autism support group in our area which I know we are very lucky to have. It stopped running during covid but it's back now, although less than it was before. My 9 year old's referral has finally come through, 3 years after diagnosis and 9 years after I first said I thought he had autism.
One of the local soft plays have a general SEN session once a month in the evening which has been a lifeline for us and several other families. Although it runs at reduced capacity it's always well attended with about 10 families there. I normally take my autistic son and his 2 brothers, one who has GDD and one who is waiting for an autism assessment. My boys love the soft play but can't use it on the days when it's not the SEN session as it's too busy and they aren't allowed to use the sensory room in the main sessions.
Anyway, I've just found out that they are changing the general SEN session to a session which you have to be referred to the post autism diagnosis support team to attend. We will be ok (just) because ds's referral has come through but it's just awful for the families who are still waiting for support from the post diagnosis team, still waiting for a diagnosis or have SEN that isn't autism.