HOPE Welcomes Autism Bill's Progress Following First Reading In The Lords, UK

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 30 Jun 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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HOPE, the charity for adults with autism and learning disabilities, welcomes the progress of the Autism Bill through Parliament. Its third and final reading in the House of Commons took place on 19th June and its first reading in the House of Lords was on 22nd June.

Once law, the Autism Bill stands to be a landmark piece of legislation, as it will be the first time there will be statutory provision to meet the needs of adults with autism. Caroline Bell, managing director of HOPE, said:

"Cross-party working has been key to the progress of the Autism Bill. As the result of support from MPs from all sides of the House, the Bill stands to be a catalyst for meaningful change once it becomes law. My hope is that this degree of collaboration and uniformity of purpose will be mirrored in the actions of the on-the-ground agencies that will be required to affect change. For a real, sustainable improvement to the lives of people with autism, local authorities and NHS trusts will have to work together, sharing information and, where necessary, pooling resources and budgets. The silos between social care and mental care must be dismantled so that those who are hard to reach are no longer easy to ignore.

"Training is a key component of the Autism Bill. This applies not just to GPs, but to the people assessing the needs of adults with autism. Without better understanding of the condition, people's spectrum of needs will not be met. The starting point must be the adult's needs rather than the availability of services. This new approach may require substantial change to the way services are planned and delivered.

"The opportunity to work is essential for improving autistic adults' independence and integration. It also makes economic sense, as suitable employment provision could lead to annual savings of more than £9 billion a year, according to research cited in a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) earlier this month. Again, training for employers and Job Centre staff will be critical to making this happen. But with the right support - such as job coaches and the creation of social enterprises - transformational change can take place so that people with autism can live as independently as possible."

The Autism Bill's second reading in the House of Lords will take place on 10th July 2009. To contribute to the Autism Bill consultation, visit the Department of Health's website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/consultations.

Source
HOPE