A step towards independence

Friday, July 30, 2010

A 12-week consultation process running from 30 July to 22 October will seek views from people with autism, their families, carers and representative organisations about how to improve the diagnosis of autism and awareness of the condition amongst frontline staff.

The consultation will also investigate how to raise the provision of training and specialist training for frontline staff, the appropriate assessment of needs for those with autism, and local leadership for NHS and social care in relation to the provision of services for adults with autism; it is viewed as the next step to help adults with autism live full and independent lives and follows the publication of the strategy for adults with autism: Fulfilling and rewarding lives.

Care services minister Paul Burstow said: "I hope people will take part in this opportunity to influence the direction and progress of our autism programme.

"It is unacceptable when adults with autism do not get the right care and support they need from health and social care services

"The government wants the consultation to reach as many people as possible, in line with our goal of giving people more say in the decisions that affect their lives. These views will help shape our priorities as we seek to help adults with autism live fulfilling and rewarding lives."

Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society views the consultation as the "vital next step people with autism and their families have been waiting for" and urges as many adults with autism, their parents and carers to take part in the consultation to "hold local services to account and make an enormous difference to people's lives."

The statutory guidance for health and social care will be published by December 2010, and reviewed in 2013.

There are a range of ways for people to respond including:
• completing an online questionnaire
• responding in writing
• responding via email

Full consultation materials can be downloaded by clicking on the consultation's link at: www.dh.gov.uk. Further information can be found at the Department of Health's newsdesk: 020 7210 5221.