Plan of action to help adults with autism
On World Autism Awareness day new milestones to help adults with autism in England live independently in a society that understands them, were set out by Care Services Minister Phil Hope.
The first-year delivery plan for the Government’s Autism Strategy timetables key priorities, including:
· support to find jobs;
· a public awareness campaign;
· training for front-line health and social care staff; and
· publishing statutory guidance.
Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:
“I am determined to deliver real change for people with autism who often find themselves excluded from society because of poor understanding about their condition. The United Nations World Autism Awareness day helps challenge misconceptions about autism everywhere.
“In England, we are developing mainstream public services that meet the needs of every person with autism. Supporting people to live independent lives, find work and provide for themselves, allows them to play a part in society and breaks down the stigma surrounding the condition. That’s why our autism strategy is a foundation for culture change.”
Currently, just 15 per cent of adults with autism are in paid employment and 49 per cent live at home with parents. Autism is a life-long disability and encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions which impairs a persons ability to communicate and understand the world around them.
The strategy is backed up by the Autism Act 2009, the first ever condition- specific legislation. Statutory guidance for health and social care will be introduced to ensure that local services implement the strategy.
Notes to editors
1/ For the autism strategy delivery plan please see:insert link
2/ For further information on the United Nations World Autism Awareness day please see: http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/site/c.egLMI2ODKpF/b.3917065/k.BE58/Home.htm
3/ Key dates for the autism strategy 2010/11:
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WHEN
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WHAT
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WHO
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31 March 2010
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Programme Board meets for first time
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Programme Board
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2 April 2010
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First year delivery plan published
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DH
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6 April 2010
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Sick note procedure replaced by “fit note”, meaning adults with autism no longer have to go to their GP to be signed off from work to claim benefits
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DWP
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April 2010
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Nationwide implementation of changes to Access to Work begins
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DWP
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May 2010
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Indicative date for publication of draft statutory guidance for health and social care to be published for consultation
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DH
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from June 2010
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Strategic planning mechanisms/boards should be in place in each region
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DH Deputy Regional Directors
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June 2010
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Programme Board meets
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Programme Board
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June-July 2010
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Public consultation events for statutory guidance take place
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DH
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September 2010
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Consultation period ends for statutory guidance
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DH
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September 2010
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Programme Board meets
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Programme Board
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1 October 2010
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Work Choice, DWP’s new specialist disability provision, goes live
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DWP
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Autumn 2010
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Programme Board to bring forward proposals for a nationwide communications campaign, delivered in conjunction with stakeholders, that seeks to tackle the stigma often attached to autism
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Programme Board
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December 2010
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New training materials for health and social care staff produced by DH, working with Skills for Health, Skills for Care, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the British Psychological Society, the Social Care Institute for Excellence and the Royal College of Nursing
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DH
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December 2010
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Programme Board meets
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Programme Board
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End December 2010
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Self-assessment tool for local areas to evaluate progress in developing services for adults with autism made available
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DH
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End December 2010
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Protocol for what information should be recorded about adults with autism and how it should be shared with other services to be completed
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DH
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End December 2010
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Three-year delivery plan for strategy to be published
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DH
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End December 2010
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Statutory guidance for health and social care to be published
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DH
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1 January 2011
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Regional delivery plans to be complete
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DH Deputy Regional Directors
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1 January 2011
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All Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) to have received autism awareness training
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Jobcentre Plus
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1 January 2011
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DWP review of campaigns to promote diversity at work (such as Employ Ability) to identify if and where more examples of adults with autism can be included to be completed.
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DWP
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1 January 2011
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Guidance to indicate some of the kinds of adjustments that might usefully be made to better meet the needs of adults with autism to be published
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DH
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31 March 2011
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Regional action plans, agreed with key partners, to be published showing key milestones and deliverables
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DH Deputy Regional Directors
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1 April 2011
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First Annual Report on the implementation of the strategy to be published
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Programme Board
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Early 2011
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Findings of prevalence study being conducted by consortium led by the University of Leicester to be published.
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September 2011
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NICE guideline for children and young people to be published
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NICE
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June 2012
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NICE guideline for adults with autism to be published
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NICE
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