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Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services within the Department of Health, has announced a set of measures that will expand Government capacity and expertise on autism, and will provide greater leadership to those delivering local services.

Following sustained pressure Mr Lewis has made a commitment to the following measures, which will build towards a national strategy for adults with autism: a full-time, senior autism advisor post within the Department of Health

funding a study into the numbers of adults with autism funding research into the needs of young people with autism as they approach adulthood improving understanding of autism among professionals.

The Government's commitments to adults with autism : 

A full-time, senior autism advisor post within the Department of Health

This role within the Department of Health will ensure that continuing focus and attention is given to autism. The government has a crucial role to play in providing leadership to local agencies, and in removing the barriers that prevent people with autism accessing the support and services they need. This post will ensure that action is taken in these areas, and provide specific expertise on all departmental matters that relate to people affected by autism.

Funding a study into the numbers of adults with autism

Nobody knows how many adults there are with autism in the UK . This lack of information has led to the exclusion of people with autism in the planning of services and contributes to a lack of understanding of the condition.