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Autism consultation launches

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 29 April 2009

Minister receives first responses to Autism consultation in person

Five people with Autism Spectrum Conditions will meet with Care Services Minister Phil Hope to respond in person to a consultation on Autism which launches today.

The meeting will appear online on the National Autistic Society website, You Tube and the new Department of Health consultation webpage . The issues raised will be formally submitted as the first responses to the consultation, which asks for opinions on what should be in the Government's National Autism Strategy to be published later this year.

The consultation will run for 20 weeks and seeks views from people with autism, their families, their carers and those involved in delivering services, to make sure that the final strategy makes a real difference on the ground.

People responding to the consultation will be asked for their views on five key themes. They are:

* Health
* Social Inclusion
* Choice and Control
* Awareness raising and training for staff
* Access to training and employment

As well as writing and e-mailing their views, people can respond to the consultation by:

* filling in a questionnaire that can be completed online or on paper and by individuals or groups;

* taking part in a locally organised stakeholder discussion event - a consultation pack can be downloaded from the Department of Health website;

* taking part in a regional discussion event; or

* logging on to the discussion forum at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en//en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_098587

Ministers have already committed to issuing statutory guidance to ensure the final strategy has teeth and is put into practice at a local level.

Phil Hope said:

"People with Autistic Spectrum Conditions should have the same rights and freedom to enjoy life as everyone else.

"I want as many people as possible to respond to the consultation and let us know about their experiences, in their communities.

"The people I've met have strong opinions on what changes will make a difference to their day to day lives. With their responses to the consultation, and the views of people from across the country, we can make sure that the national strategy we'll publish at the end of the year really delivers where it counts."

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of The National Autistic Society and chair of the strategy's External Reference Group, said:

"After months of campaigning, the Government have given adults with autism an unprecedented opportunity to have their say in a strategy which could make a real difference. It is important that as many people affected by autism as possible take part to help shape the final strategy and the action that is needed at a local and national level. Without the right support autism can have a profound and sometimes devastating effect, so I urge the Government to reaffirm their commitment to giving the strategy the legal force, which is absolutely necessary to deliver real change."

ENDS.

Notes to editors

1. For media enquiries only please contact the Department of Health newsdesk on 02072105221.

2. A film of the first responses to the consultation can be seen on the national Autistic Society website at http://www.nas.org.uk/ and at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en//en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_098587

3. The consultation period is 29th April - 15th September. This is a period of 20 weeks which is significantly longer than the Cabinet Office requirement to consult for a minimum of 12 weeks.

4. The consultation and the final strategy relate to England only. Services for adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

5. The consultation document is available electronically and in hard copy. Easy-read and plain language versions are available. Hard copies of the consultation document can be obtained by contacting 0300 123 1002, e-mail dh@prolog.uk.com, fax: 01623 724 524, minicom: 0300 123 1003 (8am to 6pm, Mon-Fri) or logging on to http://www.orderline.dh.gov.uk. Please quote 295339 / A consultation on a future strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions. You can also write to:

DH Publications Orderline
PO Box 777
London SE1 6XH

People can respond to the consultation by:

Writing to us at:
Adult Autism Strategy Consultation
Department of Health
Rm 124, Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8UG

Emailing us at:
autism@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Writing to us on-line at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/index.htm

Filling in a questionnaire online or on paper The questionnaire is available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/index.htm

Taking part in a stakeholder discussion event Stakeholders are encouraged to run their own consultation events. A consultation pack can be downloaded from the Department of Health website

Taking part in a regional discussion event Go to http://www.dh.gov.uk/en//en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_098587 to register interest in taking part

Logging on to the discussion forum at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en//en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_098587