"Social Care Reform But At What Cost?": A National Autistic Society Response To The Care And Support Green Paper, UK

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 15 Jul 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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The National Autistic Society, urged that new reforms should not be allowed further marginalise people with disabilities, including autism, in a bid to fulfil a black hole in social care funding.

Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS said;

"Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition and in the current economic climate, it is more important than ever that those who are most vulnerable are able to access appropriate help. For too long people with autism have been misunderstood and discriminated against by a counter-productive system that often lets people reach crisis point before they get the help that they need.

"This has profound consequences not just for individuals and families but also the wider UK economy - however we know that providing adults with autism with the right support at the right time could save millions.

"There is a huge shortfall in social care funding which urgently needs to be addressed and it's absolutely crucial that reform is not at the expense of those who may need a lifetime of support. People with lifelong conditions, such as autism, may be less able to save and pay for their social care.

"If the Government are serious about giving people with autism the same rights and opportunities as everyone else we must have a system that is both fair and affordable for all."

Neither the Government, people with autism nor the taxpayer are getting value for money from existing autism support. A lack of awareness of the numbers of people with the condition, a poor understanding of autism and a failure to meet the eligibility criteria for support are just some of the key issues which prevent thousands from getting the help they really need. At least 1 in 3 adults with autism are experiencing serious mental health difficulties as a result, often meaning they require more intensive and expensive support at a later stage.

The National Audit Office, Parliament's spending watchdog, recently found that identifying and supporting just a small proportion more of the population of adults with autism could save the Government up to £67 million a year.

Source
The National Autistic Society