Supporting People with Autism through Adulthood

HC 697, Fiftieth Report of Session 2008-09

Author:: House of Commons - Public Accounts Committee
Publisher:: TSO (The Stationery Office)

Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder which affects the way people interact with the world around them. The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share relate to 'social communication', 'social interaction' and 'social imagination'. Some people with autism can live relatively independently, while others require a lifetime of specialist care.

There are around 400,000 adults with autism in England, around half of whom have a learning disability (sometimes known as 'low-functioning' autism), while half do not ('high-functioning' autism, which includes Asperger Syndrome). People with autism may require concerted, individualised support across health and social care, housing, education, and employment.

However, local organisations do not currently have sufficient awareness of the number and needs of people with autism in their area, limiting their ability to plan effectively to provide services to this group. The transition of people with autism from children's to adult services is often poorly managed and requires more effective leadership and relationships between services. The traditional configuration of health and social care services has meant that adults with high-functioning autism may fail to access appropriate support and problems can be exacerbated by poor knowledge of autism amongst health and social care staff.

Despite the fact that many people with autism have skills which could be valuable to employers, only around 15 per cent of people with autism are in full-time employment. There is a lack of awareness and knowledge of autism among potential employers and Jobcentre Plus staff, which can result in poor decision-making and job outcomes for adults with autism.

Extent	34 pages	ISBN	9780215541086
Size	A4	Price	£10.00
Binding	Paperback	Published	15 Oct 2009
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges