You may be aware that the Department of Health is producing a National Strategy for Adults with Autism. They have just issued the Consultation document called ‘A Better Future’ acknowledging that service provision for adults with ASDs (or ASCs) is patchy and under-funded in many places. The Strategy follows on from the speech by Ivan Lewis, then Minister for Care in May 2008 and the debate in the House of Commons on the Autism Bill in March 2009. The Strategy is supported by the Minister for Care, Phil Hope.

It is accepted that the real numbers of adults on the autistic spectrum are not known and that a prevalence study needs to be carried out. The Government also acknowledges that transition is a very difficult time for young adults and their families, but then that services for adults need proper planning and funding and must be appropriate to the needs, not simply to try to fit them into existing services for people with a learning disability. The present funding arrangements make no provision for people without a learning disability and mental health services also don’t fund those people either, leaving them in a massive gap in service delivery.

The National Strategy is a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone connected with autism, whether as someone with an autistic condition, a family member or carer, or professionals working with people with autism, to comment on the Consultation document. The consultation period ends on 15th September 2009 and the final Strategy will be published in December 2009 and will link to statutory legislation and guidelines to be published by the Department of Health.

The Department of Health set up an External Reference Group (ERG) to inform the Strategy and I have been privileged to be a member of this group, alongside other professionals, individuals with an ASD and parents of those unable to represent themselves. I also the chair the Employment Group of the ERG and we submitted our proposals for employment and training to the Department of Health along with the other topic chapters, Health, Choice and Control, Social Inclusion and Training.

From our submission, the DoH have produced the Better Future document with the opportunity to comment on their publication either in the document or on a dedicated website, yet to be fully operational. The ERG members felt that the publication has missed quite a number of key points and we will continue to work as a group and with all of our contacts to get as much in the final Strategy as possible, whether essential or aspirational, as this will influence all future service delivery and funding. We are also seeking interdepartmental support and involvement as other Government Departments have their part to play also, such as the Department for Work and Pensions.

autism.west midlands, as key members of the group, is very keen to support and encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation process. To that end we are putting all the relevant documents on our website and can produce them in paper form for those who don’t access the internet. The documents are the ERG’s submission in full and in summary form and the Department of Health’s ‘Better Future’ document in full or in summary form.

Please use the links provided below to download the documents or request them from our Information Service at autism.west midlands, 18 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3DU.

If you want any further information or wish us to comment on your behalf, please do contact our Information Service who will deal with your enquiry.

 Carolyn Bailey

Chief Executive autism.west midlands.

Click here to download ERG initial report (summary)
Click here to download ERG initial report (March 2009)
Click here to download the Department of Health - A Better Future