DOCSLIB.ORG

Autism Booklet

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Autism Booklet Autism 2011_Layout 1 08/09/2011 17:40 Page 1 The Autism Act 2009: developing specialist skills in autism practice RCN PUBLISHING ESSENTIAL GUIDE RCN PUBLISHING This guide has been supported by Autism 2011_Layout 1 08/09/2011 17:40 Page 2 ESSENTIAL GUIDE This guide has been written by Jill Aylott, Centre for Professional and Organisation Development, Faculty of Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University Contents 3 Introduction 5 A note about terminology 5 Defining autism to guide best practice Environments and sensory issues Autism as a sensory perceptual impairment Barriers in the environment Use of reasonable adjustments to enable access to the environment Communication, information and processing Understanding behaviour Use of reasonable adjustments to change personal behaviour Attitudinal barriers 16 Diagnosis and services Transition 18 References 19 Summary RCN Publishing Company Ltd To subscribe call 0345 772 6100 The Heights, 59-65 Lowlands Road www.learningdisabilitypractice.co.uk Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3AW www.mentalhealthpractice.co.uk For further information contact: ISBN: 1873853858 [email protected] Cover photograph: Science Photo Library © Copyright RCN Publishing Company Ltd 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. 2 october :: 2011 Autism 2011_Layout 1 08/09/2011 17:40 Page 3 Introduction People with autism are ‘falling through gaps in services’ (Loynes 2001, Department of Health (DH) 2006, National Autistic Society 2010). The All Party Parliamentary Group for Autism (APPGA) was formed in 2000 to work with the main political parties to raise awareness of the difficulties that people with autism and their families face, and to campaign and lobby for legislation change. The National Autistic Society drafted the Autism Act, which was taken forward by Cheryl Gillan as a private member’s bill in November 2009. The bill was supported by a coalition of 16 autism organisations and had all-party support. The bill was passed and required the publication of an autism strategy paper Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives in March 2010 (DH 2010a); this was followed by the publication of a three-year delivery plan in April 2010 (DH 2010b) and statutory guidance to implement Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives in December 2010 (DH 2010c). The Autism Act 2009 seeks to give health and social care organisations specific legislative responsibility to: 4Provide all staff with statutory training in autism, with front line staff required to have more specialist training in meeting the specific needs of adults with an autism spectrum disorder. 4Ensure that the diagnosis of autism is accompanied by an assessment of need. Before the act, few more able people with autism were accessing community care assessments, and of those who did only 45 per cent were receiving services specified in the assessment (Loynes 2001). 4Provide all children with a statement of an autism spectrum disorder with a drawn-up 'transition plan' for progression into adult services. Before the act, an inquiry into ‘transition’ found that: ‘Transition services are still failing most young people on the autism spectrum’, and that: ‘Getting it wrong for a young person on the autism spectrum can have catastrophic consequences that may be irredeemable because of their inherent difficulty with new situations’ (Allard 2009). 4Ensure that adults with autism are involved in local service planning. Local authorities are not aware of the number of people with an autism spectrum disorder living in their locality, which ESSENTIAL GUIDE RCN PUBLISHING they need to be to identify and adequately plan ways to work with people with autism. The Equality Act 2010 replaced most of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Equality Act requires ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the way things are done in public services – for example, changing a policy, changing the structure of the building or providing information in an accessible format. It is not appropriate to wait until a person with a disability seeks to use a service – the act requires public sector organisations be proactive in identifying the needs of disabled people. This guide will explore how services might anticipate the needs of people with autism. Its aims are to: 4Explore an understanding of autism in adulthood (or transition to adulthood) that helps practitioners to provide a positive experience for people with autism seeking to access services in health and social care. 4Review how this knowledge might help to identify and plan to meet the needs of adults with autism, while making ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the services to enable this to occur. october :: 2011 3 Autism 2011_Layout 1 08/09/2011 17:40 Page 4 4Provide a clear pathway for the can be enabling, while others can be disabling development of leaders in the field of (Swain et al 1993). A social model of autism in health and social care who will understanding autism is needed to understand ‘champion’ the implementation of the how barriers in health and social care can have Autism Act 2009. a disabling and distressing effect on the person This guide is aimed at people in a specialist role with autism if service providers lack knowledge who will lead the planning, development and of autism and fail to make some level of commissioning of services with local authorities reasonable adjustment. and GP consortia. A report from the National People with autism are sometimes referred to Audit Office (2009) stated that ‘80 per cent of as having an ‘invisible’ impairment, and GPs feel they need additional guidance and identifying how reasonable adjustments can be training to manage patients with autism more made to make services more accessible may not effectively’. Although the employment, police be easy. But, reasonable adjustments need to be and probation services are not legally required made to: to respond to the Autism Act 2009, the Autism 4Premises – by exploring how the Strategy (DH 2010a) and Statutory Guidance environment can be better accessed by (DH 2010c) could help improve the services in people with autism. these areas. The vision of the act is that: 4Processes – by exploring how appointments ‘All adults with autism are able to live fulfilling can be scheduled better. and rewarding lives within a society that accepts 4Communication – by exploring how and understands them. They can get a diagnosis documents can be presented in a way that and access support if they need it and they can can be better processed by people with depend on mainstream public services to treat autism. them fairly as individuals, helping them make the This guide also discusses the development of skills most of their talents.’ and knowledge in autism practice to explore: The Autism Strategy (DH 2010a) outlines the 4Autism as an impairment of sensory need for staff to have training in autism. But, perception. unless training helps staff to develop their skills 4The use of an environmental audit to ensure in making reasonable adjustments under the organisation-friendly access for people Equality Act 2010, little will change in the lives with autism. of people with autism and their families. Simply 4The use of a communication profile to providing training using a medical model is develop a personalised pathway through insufficient, because this will only provide health and social care and to make information about the condition of autism in reasonable adjustments as part of the isolation from the environment that defines the person’s care plan. characteristic behaviours that are part of the 4A systematic approach to understanding autism spectrum condition. Some environments the meaning of behaviour. 4 october :: 2011 Autism 2011_Layout 1 08/09/2011 17:40 Page 5 A note about terminology people with autism and their families. This Many websites and autobiographical accounts section of the guide will explain the likely written by people with autism are available. barriers raised by: Some of these suggest that people with autism 4Environments and sensory issues. are dissatisfied with the term ‘autistic spectrum 4Communication and information, and disorder’ (Gerland 2000, Jackson 2002, Lawson cognitive processing issues. 2000). A movement away from the medical 4Attitudes from health and social care model of defining autism as a disorder towards workers. an understanding that it is a condition It will identify possible 'reasonable adjustments' characterised by certain behaviours (some that could give people on the autism spectrum idiosyncratic) that may be seen and evidenced in greater access to health and social care services. some environments but not in others has Environments and sensory issues Autism can emerged. This suggests that people with an cause people to experience high levels of stress autism spectrum condition are disabled by and distress, particularly when they are in highly factors external to themselves, recognising stimulating and demanding environments autism as an impairment, which will have (Williams 1998a, 1998b, 1998c). This is the area positive and negative aspects depending on the in which 'reasonable adjustments' might most stimuli present in particular environments. The improve access to services for people on the official diagnostic criteria (Diagnostic Statistical autism spectrum. People with autism show Manual [DSM-IV], International Classification of excessive physiological
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fil-B /Advisory Committee Co
    Reading Comprehension Strategies In Children With High- Functioning Autism: A Social Constructivist Perspective Item Type Thesis Authors Cotter, June Ann Download date 26/09/2021 17:04:41 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9075 READING COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES IN CHILDREN WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM: A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST PERSPECTIVE By June Ann Cotter RECOMMENDED: £> P \ - I V v^jQ JL-V% lh -i> Advisory Committee Chair a . fil-b /Advisory Committee Co Chair, Department of Communication APPROVED: Dean, College of Liberal Arts / r Dean of the Graduate School Date READING COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES IN CHILDREN WITH HIGH- FUNCTIONING AUTISM: A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST PERSPECTIVE A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By June Ann Cotter, MSEd. Fairbanks, Alaska May 2011 © 2011 June Ann Cotter UMI Number: 3463936 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Dissertation Publishing UMI 3463936 Copyright 2011 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. uestA ® ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract Individuals with autism see the world, by definition of the diagnosis, in a very different way than the typical student.
    [Show full text]
  • John Hersey's Awareness of One's Environment "Characters," Carol and Willie
    New 'York Times Book Re'view 4/3/94 Forward From Nowhere An autistic woman resumes her tale of trying to rna,ke sense oflife. Iiams, too, participated in con­ terns of behavior are not inher­ feelings as humans do - and nected to one another ._..- a desire iOMEBODY versations by replaying scripts ent but are learned by watching that humans have feelings in a Ms. Williams did not have Just SOMEWHERE she had heard. But, as she ex­ others. way that objects don't. She the opposite, she writes. "I was plains, non-autistic people use When "Somebody Somewhere" stands paralyzed before a tiny allergic to words like 'we,' 'us' or 9reaking Free From the World these bits to reflect real feelings, opens, Ms. Williams is 25 years closet because she cannot bear 'together· - words depicting )fAutlsm. genuine emotions ..... at least 'in old and liVing in London. She has what she uwould have to inflict closeness" because "closeness By Donna Williams. principle. To the autistic who is given up her characters but not upon" her clothes by squeezing made earthquakes go off inside ~38 pp. New York: unaware of real feelings (for yet learned how to function in the them in. She apologizes to them of me and compelled me to run," rimes Books/ whom, in fact, emotions feel like world without them: HWillie was­ as she hangs them up. Realizing pnly at the end, in a special Random House. $23. death), the memorized bits are n't there to help me understand, that objects are not aware of her friendship (which she calls a all there is.
    [Show full text]
  • Autism in Ireland
    THE IRISH VOICE FOR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY F RONTLIVolumNe 86 • SpringE 2012 AUTISM IN IRELAND Early Intervention Parenting a Diagnostic child with ASD Classification STANDARDS — EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS — HIQA— SURVIVAL Volume 86 • Spring 2012 F RONTLINE CONTENTS FEATURE: AUTISM IN IRELAND 10 A Labyrinth? Joe McDonald attempts to answer 28 Supporting community some of the queries posed by living for adults with parents who have a child with Autism Spectrum Disorders autism . (ASD) and Developmental Disabilities (DD) 12 Applied Behaviour Analysis Nessa Hughes takes a look at (ABA) and Autism services available for adults Niall Conlon explores ABA and diagnosied with ASD. autism studies in Irish universities. 31 Our Journey 15 The future of diagnostic Maria Moran tells the story of her classification in autism daughter Jessica’s diagnosis on 04 Prof. Michael Fitzgerald comments the autism spectrum and the on the proposed new criteria for whole familys’ journey as they DSM V for autism and offers his tried to find their way through a REGULARS considered opinion of its impact on maze of treatments and opinions both parents and children. for the best method to help and care for her. 03 Editorial 16 Autism and diagnostic 04 News Update controversies Cork man’s art chosen for United Ruth Connolly explores the problem Nations stamp. of diagnostics over the wide spectrum of autism, sometimes NDA Disability shows more leading to misinformation, negative attitudes. misunderstanding and confusion. All-party agreement on disability motion on Seanad Éireann. 18 Caring for people with autism Brothers of Charity ordered to and intellectual disability pay €2 million in staff Ciaran Leonard explains why caring increments.
    [Show full text]
  • Constructing Narratives and Identities in Auto/Biography About Autism
    RELATIONAL REPRESENTATION: CONSTRUCTING NARRATIVES AND IDENTITIES IN AUTO/BIOGRAPHY ABOUT AUTISM by MONICA L. ORLANDO Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of English CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY May 2015 2 CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES We hereby approve the dissertation of Monica Orlando candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.* Committee Chair Kimberly Emmons Committee Member Michael Clune Committee Member William Siebenschuh Committee Member Jonathan Sadowsky Committee Member Joseph Valente Date of Defense March 3, 2015 * We also certify that written approval has been obtained for any proprietary material contained therein. 3 Dedications and Thanks To my husband Joe, for his patience and support throughout this graduate school journey. To my family, especially my father, who is not here to see me finish, but has always been so proud of me. To Kim Emmons, my dissertation advisor and mentor, who has been a true joy to work with over the past several years. I am very fortunate to have been guided through this project by such a supportive and encouraging person. To the graduate students and faculty of the English department, who have made my experience at Case both educational and enjoyable. I am grateful for having shared the past five years with all of them. 4 Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1: Introduction Relationality and the Construction of Identity in Autism Life Writing ........................ 6 Chapter 2 Clara Claiborne Park’s The Siege and Exiting Nirvana: Shifting Conceptions of Autism and Authority ................................................................................................. 53 Chapter 3 Transformative Narratives: Double Voicing and Personhood in Collaborative Life Writing about Autism ..............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Autistica Action Briefing: Adult Mental Health
    Autistica Action Briefing: Adult Mental Health Harper G, Smith E, Simonoff E, Hill L, Johnson S, Davidson I. March 2019 Autistica is the UK’s autism research charity. This briefing summarises the most important scientific findings about mental health in autistic adults. It was developed in collaboration with leading researchers and autistic people with experience of the topic as an insight into the latest evidence. We strongly urge the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS policy-makers, commissioners, services and public research funders to act on this information. The evidence about mental health in autistic adults has moved on; services and policies to improve mental health must now do so as well. www.autistica.org.uk/AutismStrategy “If a neurotypical person was afraid to leave the house, that wouldn’t be seen as normal or okay. But if you’re 1 autistic you should just accept that that is the way your life is going to be.” What we know “The main problem with mental health services is that no one seems to want the responsibility 1 of putting him on their books… He keeps getting passed around departments” ▪ Almost 8 in 10 autistic adults experience a mental health problem.2 Autism is not a mental health condition itself, but mental health problems are one of the most common and serious challenges experienced by people across the spectrum. ▪ Up to 10% of adults in inpatient mental health settings are autistic,3 even though only 1% of the population is on the spectrum.4 ▪ Autistic people are often unable to access community mental health
    [Show full text]
  • Educational Inclusion for Children with Autism in Palestine. What Opportunities Can Be Found to Develop Inclusive Educational Pr
    EDUCATIONAL INCLUSION FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IN PALESTINE. What opportunities can be found to develop inclusive educational practice and provision for children with autism in Palestine; with special reference to the developing practice in two educational settings? by ELAINE ASHBEE A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of Education University of Birmingham November 2015 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. Amendments to names used in thesis The Amira Basma Centre is now known as Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre Friends Girls School is now known as Ramallah Friends Lower School ABSTRACT This study investigates inclusive educational understandings, provision and practice for children with autism in Palestine, using a qualitative, case study approach and a dimension of action research together with participants from two educational settings. In addition, data about the wider context was obtained through interviews, visits, observations and focus group discussions. Despite the extraordinarily difficult context, education was found to be highly valued and Palestinian educators, parents and decision–makers had achieved impressive progress. The research found that autism is an emerging field of interest with a widespread desire for better understanding.
    [Show full text]
  • About the National Autistic Society the National Autistic Society (NAS) Is the UK’S Leading Charity for People Affected by Autism
    Getting on? Growing older with autism A policy report 2 3 Contents Foreword by Baroness Greengross OBE 4 Background 5 Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 8 Chapter 1: Diagnosis 10 Under-diagnosis and referral for assessment The assessment process The impact of diagnosis Chapter 2: Research on autism in older age 14 Chapter 3: Health in older age 16 Identifying health problems Accessing healthcare Chapter 4: Preparing for the future 19 Reliance on families The support families provide Filling the gap: possible solutions Planning for transition in services Chapter 5: Ensuring appropriate services and support are available 24 Autism-friendly mainstream services Age-appropriate autism services Commissioning-appropriate services Conclusion 29 Summary of recommendations 30 Glossary and abbreviations 34 Methodology 35 Written by Anna Boehm This report would not have been possible without the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Foundation. 2 3 Foreword: Baroness Greengross I have worked in older people’s policy for over thirty years. During this time I’ve seen dramatic increases in life expectancy, debates over care funding moving to the fore of our national politics, and significant improvements in the legal protections we offer against age discrimination. During the same period, society’s understanding of autism has taken great steps forward. However, national and local policy-makers, as well as the media, very often concentrate on the effect of the disability on children. Only in the past four or five years has any real attention been paid to adults, and the needs of older adults with autism are yet to get a real look-in. So I was very pleased to chair the Autism and Ageing Commission which has worked with The National Autistic Society to develop the policy recommendations contained in this report.
    [Show full text]
  • Danish and British Protection from Disability Discrimination at Work - Past, Present and Future
    University of Huddersfield Repository Lane, Jackie and Videbaek Munkholm, Natalie Danish and British Protection from Disability Discrimination at Work - Past, Present and Future. Original Citation Lane, Jackie and Videbaek Munkholm, Natalie (2015) Danish and British Protection from Disability Discrimination at Work - Past, Present and Future. The International Journal of Comparative Labour law and Industrial Relations, 31 (1). pp. 91-112. ISSN 0952-617X This version is available at http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/23332/ The University Repository is a digital collection of the research output of the University, available on Open Access. Copyright and Moral Rights for the items on this site are retained by the individual author and/or other copyright owners. Users may access full items free of charge; copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided: • The authors, title and full bibliographic details is credited in any copy; • A hyperlink and/or URL is included for the original metadata page; and • The content is not changed in any way. For more information, including our policy and submission procedure, please contact the Repository Team at: [email protected]. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/ Danish and British protection from disability discrimination at work – past, present and future Jackie Lane and Natalie Videbæk Munkholm* Disability discrimination in Denmark and Britain] Abstract: Denmark and the United Kingdom both became members of what is now the European Union in 1973 and are thus equally matched in terms of opportunity to bring their anti-discrimination laws into line with those of the EU and other supra- national bodies such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Retracing the Historical Social Care Context of Autism: a Narrative Overview
    Retracing the historical social care context of autism: a narrative overview Article (Accepted Version) D'Astous, Valerie, Manthorpe, Jill, Lowton, Karen and Glaser, Karen (2016) Retracing the historical social care context of autism: a narrative overview. The British Journal of Social Work, 46 (3). pp. 789-807. ISSN 0045-3102 This version is available from Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/54127/ This document is made available in accordance with publisher policies and may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher’s version. Please see the URL above for details on accessing the published version. Copyright and reuse: Sussex Research Online is a digital repository of the research output of the University. Copyright and all moral rights to the version of the paper presented here belong to the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. To the extent reasonable and practicable, the material made available in SRO has been checked for eligibility before being made available. Copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Retracing the historical social care context of autism: A narrative overview Valerie D’Astous1*, JillManthorpe2, Karen Lowton1, and Karen Glaser1 1 Social Science, Health & Medicine, King’s College London, Strand Campus, London, WC2R 2LS, UK 2 Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London, UK *Correspondence to Valerie D’Astous, Social Science, Health & Medicine, King’s College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Briefing Paper No 5/2013 by Lenny Roth
    Autism Spectrum Disorder Briefing Paper No 5/2013 by Lenny Roth RELATED PUBLICATIONS Government policy and services to support and include people with disabilities, Briefing Paper No. 1/2007 by Lenny Roth ISSN 1325-5142 ISBN 978-0-7313-1901-5 June 2013 © 2013 Except to the extent of the uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the prior consent from the Manager, NSW Parliamentary Research Service, other than by Members of the New South Wales Parliament in the course of their official duties. Autism Spectrum Disorder by Lenny Roth NSW PARLIAMENTARY RESEARCH SERVICE Gareth Griffith (BSc (Econ) (Hons), LLB (Hons), PhD), Manager, Politics & Government/Law .......................................... (02) 9230 2356 Lenny Roth (BCom, LLB), Senior Research Officer, Law ....................................................... (02) 9230 2768 Lynsey Blayden (BA, LLB (Hons)), Research Officer, Law ................................................................. (02) 9230 3085 Talina Drabsch (BA, LLB (Hons)), Research Officer, Social Issues/Law ........................................... (02) 9230 2484 Jack Finegan (BA (Hons), MSc), Research Officer, Environment/Planning..................................... (02) 9230 2906 Daniel Montoya (BEnvSc (Hons), PhD), Research Officer, Environment/Planning ..................................... (02) 9230 2003 John Wilkinson (MA, PhD), Research Officer, Economics ...................................................... (02) 9230 2006 Should Members or their staff require further information about this publication please contact the author. Information about Research Publications can be found on the Internet at: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/V3LIstRPSubject Advice on legislation or legal policy issues contained in this paper is provided for use in parliamentary debate and for related parliamentary purposes.
    [Show full text]
  • NAS Richmond Info Pack December 2020
    AUTISM: A SPECTRUM CONDITION AUTISM, ASPERGER’S SYNDROME AND SOCIAL COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES AN INFORMATION PACK A GUIDE TO RESOURCES, SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE OF ALL AGES; THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, ASSOCIATES AND PROFESSIONALS Produced by the National Autistic Society’s Richmond Branch. Online edition December 2020 Introduction 1 Introduction AN INTRODUCTION: WHAT WE OFFER The Richmond Branch of The National Autistic Society is a friendly parent-led group aiming to support families and autistic people in the borough. We hold coffee mornings, liaise with other groups and provide regular updates through emails and our Branch website. We are also working with our local authority and other professionals to improve access to health, social services and educational provision. Our core objectives are: Awareness, Support, Information Our present activities: Awareness and liaison. Networking and partnering with other local organisations, sharing expertise and working with them to improve services. Raising awareness and representing families and individuals affected by autism by involvement in the local authority’s implementation of the Autism Strategy, SEND plus other autism interest/pan-disability rights groups. Family and individual support. This is offered primarily via email support, plus our coffee mornings. Information. We aim to help and inform families and autistic people, and do so via: • Our Branch website. This gives details of our Branch and NAS Head Office’s activities, other groups, general activities and events, plus the online Information Pack. • The NAS Richmond Branch Information Pack. An essential guide to autism services and support. Written by local parents, the Information Pack aims to help anyone affected by autism or Asperger syndrome, including parents, carers and anyone else who provides support.
    [Show full text]
  • Autism – Overview of UK Policy and Services
    BRIEFING PAPER Number CBP 07172 , 21 April 2016 Autism – overview of UK By Elizabeth Parkin policy and services PHOTO REDACTED DUE TO THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR OTHER LEGAL ISSUES Inside: 1. What is autism? 2. Government policies on autism in England 3. Health and care services 4. Education policy 5. Employment policies 6. Welfare and benefits 7. The criminal justice system 8. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary Number CBP 07172 , 21 April 2016 2 Contents Summary 3 1. What is autism? 4 2. Government policies on autism in England 5 2.1 Autism Act 2009 5 2.2 Adult autism strategy for England 5 2.3 Statutory Guidance 2010 5 2.4 Think Autism strategy 2014 6 2.5 Statutory guidance 2015 7 2.6 ‘No voice unheard, no right ignored’ consultation 7 3. Health and care services 10 3.1 Diagnosis 10 3.2 Co-existing mental health problems and learning disabilities 12 3.3 Training for health and care professionals 14 3.4 NICE guidance 15 3.5 Social care services 16 4. Education policy 19 5. Employment policies 22 6. Welfare and benefits 25 6.1 Welfare changes 25 Employment and Support Allowance 25 Personal Independence Payment 28 Universal Credit 29 7. The criminal justice system 31 8. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 33 8.1 Scotland 33 8.2 Wales 33 8.3 Northern Ireland 34 3 Autism – overview of UK policy and services Summary This briefing provides an overview of policies and services for people with autism in England.
    [Show full text]