Count me in

The Welsh Assembly Government, local authorities and local health boards do not know how many adults with autism there are in Wales. This makes it extremely difficult to plan and deliver the services that adults with autism need.

When we asked local authorities and local health boards whether they kept a specific record of the number of adults with autism in their area, only five said that they keep some record. Of these, just three could give us exact numbers. Only one of the local health boards that responded to our questionnaire kept a record of adults in their boundary.

The Welsh Government should:

  • make it a statutory requirement for local authorities and local health boards to record the number of adults with autism in their area
  • issue guidance to local authorities and local health boards about how to accurately record the number of adults with autism.


Local authorities and local health boards should:

  • improve their systems to identify and accurately record the number of adults with autism in their area
  • include the needs of adults with autism in their health, social care and well-being strategies
  • appoint a local autism co-ordinator to lead the implementation of the Welsh Assembly Government's autistic spectrum disorder strategic plan for Wales (ASD action plan) and support local and regional autism forums.

Lead the way

The Welsh Assembly Government has made a commitment to people with autism and their families by producing the ASD action plan. They must now ensure that the needs of adults with autism are considered in the delivery of this plan. They must also support authorities and health boards to make changes at a local level.

  • 91% of local authorities felt that the Assembly Government needed to take further action to help them support adults with autism.
  • 67% of local health boards said they would benefit from more guidance from the Assembly Government around commissioning services for people with autism.


The Welsh Assembly Government should:

  • ensure the production and delivery of an ASD action plan that is fit for purpose, properly resourced, and includes specific actions relating to the issues raised by I Exist
  • produce good practice guidance for local agencies on how to commission services for adults with autism
  • appoint an autism support post to monitor the delivery of the ASD action plan, provide advice and support to local agencies, and identify priorities for the future. The post should be supported by a national autism steering group
  • create a task and finish group to examine the issues facing adults with autism, decide what to prioritise when implementing the ASD action plan, and consider the need for legislation and/or statutory guidance.

Meet my needs

Adults with autism are not getting the support they need to live fulfilling lives. Some do receive a service, but it is not always the right service. Many more get no support at all. Families are put under pressure as they try to provide support for adults with autism.

As a result, adults with autism can develop additional difficulties, such as mental health problems. Access to preventative services may have stopped this happening.

  • 91% of parents and carer say that their son or daughter needs some level of daily support to live independently.
  • 57% of parents say that their son or daughter would need 24-hour support to live on their own.
  • 55% of adults with autism would like to live in their own flat or house. Most, however, told us that they would need some form of support to do so.


Local authorities and health boards should:

  • allocate resources to services including social skills and life skills training, and social programmes for adults with autism.

Understand my needs

Adults with autism are often unable to access support, or find that their needs are misunderstood and remain unmet. This can have serious implications for adults with autism and place great pressure on families.

  • 63% of adults with autism have had problems accessing support from a local authority or health service.
  • 41% of local agencies say that the reason they do not provide services for adults with autism is that they do not fit easily into either learning disability or mental health services.
  • 75% of local authorities felt that staff did not receive enough training in autism, wither during initial training or as part of their ongoing professional development.


Local authorities and local health boards should:

  • ensure that staff who carry out unified assessments using eligibility criteria are fully trained in autism, issues affecting adults with autism and their carers, and how to communicate with people with autism
  • establish a clear route for adults with autism to access assessment and services
  • give social care support to staff who come into regular contact with adults with autism access to up-to-date information about the condition and the needs of adults with autism so that they understand how autism affects the individual they are supporting.