The National Autistic Society (NAS) is pleased to welcome the publication of the first ever strategy for improving the lives of adults with autism in England.
Last year, when we achieved the Autism Act 2009, we committed the Government to publishing an Adult Autism Strategy to transform services for adults with autism. The publication of this strategy meets this commitment.
The strategy sets out a number of key actions and recommendations for central Government as well as for local authorities, the NHS and Jobcentre Plus.
In particular, we welcome the following aspects of the strategy.
- Improved training of frontline professionals in autism.
- The recommendation to develop local autism teams.
- Actions for better planning and commissioning of services, including involving people with autism and their parents/carers in this process.
- Actions for improving access to diagnosis.
- Leadership structures at national, regional and local levels to support delivery.
- Proposals for reviewing the strategy to make sure that it is working.
- We are particularly pleased that the strategy encourages the development of local teams and the development of local autism partnership boards.
These were key actions that we have been calling for throughout the development of the strategy.
Read our Q&A about the adult autism strategy for England.