Transition to adulthood can be a difficult time for disabled young people. Adequate planning is essential. However, only 53% of young people with autism who have statements of special educational needs (SEN) were issued with transition plans during the course of their education, falling to just 34% of students in mainstream schools. The input of adult social services is crucial to the viability of the transition plan and yet adult social services were only involved in planning in 17% of cases.
What we’re doing
The National Autistic Society (NAS) Cymru is a member of the Welsh Assembly Government’s External Transition Reference Group, which meets to engage with and advise the Government on issues relating to transition.
In May 2009 the Cross Party Autism Group published a research report entitled A snapshot of specialist autism education provision in Wales. In response to the report, the National Assembly’s Enterprise and Learning Committee committed to undertake an inquiry into the matter. NAS Cymru gave written and oral evidence to the Committee, which has also scrutinised the Minster for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills. Issues around transition featured heavily in the inquiry. The Committee is due to produce a report which includes recommendations for action. We look forward to this report.
NAS Cymru awaits the outcome of the Enterprise and Learning Committee’s inquiry, and particularly hopes to see strong actions and recommendations that will support improved transition practices.
The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that the Adult Task and Finish Group will now focus its attention on a number of new areas, including further and higher education. NAS Cymru will call for issues around transition to be addressed by this group.