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

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
dh.uk/consultations.


Source

HOPE