Latest News - March 2010

Adults with autism- new strategy launched

The Care Services Minister Phil Hope has today launched the government's first strategy aimed at helping adults with autism to live independently and find work.

Following on from the Autism Act 2009, the first condition-specific legislation, this new cross-government strategy has set out a range of measures under the 'Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives' banner.

At the moment just 15% of adults with autism are in employment and around 50% still live at home with their parents. In fact, campaigners have long accused the state of allowing adults with autism to be, in effect, socially excluded.

Now that is set to change with a sustained effort to tackle the issue of adults with autism being 'cast adrift'. A national board of experts is being set up to co-ordinate the strategy – the first of its kind.

Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers will be given special training to help adults with autism find work – there are around 400,000 with the condition in the UK.

Mr Hope calls the strategy a "foundation for change".

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University's Autism Research Centre said of the strategy: "It pinpoints achievable solutions that could radically improve the lives of people with autism."

We have been following these developments closely and are pleased to see that progress is now being made for adults with autism.

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