Autism Bill, Provision for adults

On the 7th October there is a reception being held in the House of Commons to present the Autism Bill. The Bill has been drafted by the NAS and in partnership with people with autism and their families. The Bill is aimed at highlighting the devastation and lack of support available for adults with autism. Angela Browning MP who launched the Bill in May is now calling on Local Service Providers to take action.

Autism-in-Mind 'should' be in the House tomorrow for this reception. This Bill is running alongside the National Audit of adults with autism. There is currently an on-line consultation for adults/parents/carers which Autism-in-Mind were sucessful in having ammended earlier this week. The consultation can be found here.

If you add to the mix that we now have a Specialist Autism Advisor, Elaine Hill, in post in the Department of Health we appear to at last be remembering that children with autism actually do grow up to be adults with autism and require provision, resources and support.

Updates on the Autism Bill

Friday 30th January 2009

The Autism Bill is up for debate on the 27th February 2009. It needs at least 100 MPs to commit to voting.

Saturday 28th February 2009

Autism was debated for four hours in Parliament on 27 February 2009, with a full examination of the Government's recent commitment to improving the lives of both children and adults with autism in England. This parliamentary time and support for autism from over 100 MPs is unprecedented.

You can watch a video of the debate here

At the end of the debate, the Cheryl Gillan Autism Bill was voted through to committee stage by MPs. The committee stage is an opportunity for further detailed analysis of the Government's landmark commitment

The strength of public and parliamentary support for Cheryl Gillan MP and the Autism Bill has been overwhelming and has enabled us to secure this vital commitment from the Government. To date almost 6,000 people have contacted their MP about the Bill, which addresses:

* the lack of local information about children and young people with autism, and the failure of local agencies to include their needs in the planning of services, particularly around the transition to adult life
* the lack of local information about adults with autism and the devastating lack of support for adults with autism.

In the debate on the Autism Bill, Phil Hope MP, Minister for Care Services confirmed the Government's pledge to address all aspects of the Autism Bill with a package of measures to improve the lives of people with autism in England.

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of The National Autistic Society (NAS), said:

"After months of lobbying we are delighted that the Government have listened to autism campaigners - including the 6,000 people who emailed their MP and the 15 other autism charities we are working with - and are set to take decisive action. This is a landmark victory for people affected by this complex disability, and it is absolutely imperative that the Government now deliver. We will keep campaigning until we see real change at a local level."

What the Government will do

Measures for adults with autism

* In April, a consultation will be launched on the National Adult Autism Strategy. The final strategy will be produced by December 2009.
* The final autism strategy will include statutory guidance for local authorities to make sure the outcomes it sets out are delivered.
* The Government will establish clear leadership at national, regional and local level to ensure the strategy is delivered.
* Funding will be provided to ensure that the Autism Strategy will be implemented at a regional level.
* The Government will carry out work to identify the barriers people with autism face in accessing both specialist and mainstream healthcare services and propose action to address this.
* The Government will carry out a piece of work to address issues of employment for people with autism. This will feed into the Autism Strategy.
* The Government will address issues relating to the collection of data on adults with autism. This will include guidance to local authorities.
* The Government will publish good practice guidance on Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs), which are the best way for authorities to address the lack of data available on adults with autism locally. This aims to help local authorities collect information on adults with autism, which can be difficult for them to do as local authority records are currently inadequate.
* In April, Commissioning Guidance will be published for local authorities and the NHS. This will set out good practice around planning services to meet the needs of adults with autism.

Measures for children with autism

* The Government have committed to providing regulations and statutory guidance to ensure local authorities and their partners collect and share information about children with autism so that their needs are included in Children and Young Peoples Plans. These plans are the key local planning tool and this will ensure a multi-agency approach.
* Funding to the Autism Education Trust will be increased to £500,000 in 2009-10 for work to improve commissioning of services for children with autism.
* £200,000 of the Governments Transition Support Programme to research the transition to adult life for young people with autism.

Please note that the Autism Bill only applies to England and Wales.

Wednesday 13th May 2009

The Government is adding clauses to the Autism Bill - New Clause 1, Autism Strategy. This is wonderful but more than ever we must ensure that this Strategy includes EVERYTHING that we need.

Asperger Technical now thinks that the government is seriously supporting the bill. We hope it doesn't fall through.

Friday 19th June 2009

The autism bill has had its 3rd reading in the House of Commons.

I am a bit concerned about some of the comments made by Ann Keen, who was standing in for Phil Hope that day. Ann Keen is the voice of the government and will have say and influence over what finally makes it into the complete strategy. There is a possibility that certain compromises will be made and the final product will not be what the other MPs are saying is needed.

Betty Simmerson of UKIP knows plenty of things about Ann Keen - and hates her with a vengeance.

Is EH still doing this job now?

I'm not sure. I will have to investigate because many changes have taken place in government departments since the last general election.