We're failing autistic people, minister admits

February 22, 2009

autistic-people

O'Hara The Observer, Sunday 22 February 2009 Article history

Tens of thousands of people with autism have been repeatedly let down

by the social care and health system while Labour has been in power,

a minister has admitted.

In a damning indictment, Phil Hope, the care services minister, said

there was " no doubt " that, despite years of campaigning by parents

and charities for better services, such as respite care and tailored

therapies, people with autism have " not been well served " .

He said the government would launch an adult autism strategy in April

to be followed by a 12-week consultation period with possible

statutory guidance that would require local authorities to make

improvements. Research to establish the scale of demand for services

across the country, originally announced last May, would also finally

get under way, he confirmed.

" I recognise that adults with autism have not been well served by the

health and social care system. That is true. I am not going to try to

deny that because it is true. The past has not been good enough, "

Hope said.

The National Autistic Society published research last year that found

that two-thirds of councils did not know how many children with

autism were in their area and only two knew the number of adults.

Tory MP Cheryl Gillan has tabled a private member's bill to compel

them to do so. She said the government were moving in the right

direction but accused the minister of pre-emptive action to frustrate

her bill. Hope conceded that the bill " has had an impact " .

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