Autism Awareness Week launched

From October 1st to 7th charities will be promoting the fact that is Autism Awareness Week and calling on the government for better planning in the care services for people with autism and better support for their families.

Despite the fact that over 600,000 people have autism in the UK, the Autism Alliance says the planning and commissioning of services for sufferers often does not focus on the needs of autistic people living in the community.

Education, care and support services are usually commissioned by social services departments and primary care trusts, but the organisation claims that resources often are not best used due to ineffective planning.

The Autism Alliance is calling for this week to mark the opportunity for discussing improved planning of services for people with autism

It will be sending appeal letters to commissioners and distributing posters about the campaign.

The Alliance will urge people with autism and their carers to request copies of commissioning plans from their service providers and to write to the prime minister calling for better planning of services for autistics.

Meanwhile the National Autistic Society (NAS) is supporting Autism Alliance's campaign.

NAS director of services Neil McConachie said: "Lack of efficient planning and poor commissioning practice presently leads to people with autism either receiving services which may not meet their needs, or no services at all. Government needs to work in partnership with the voluntary sector, and greater funding is vital if people with autism and their families are to have access to the support and services they need.

"Autism is much more common than people think, affecting an estimated one in 100 people in the UK. It can have a profound effect on individuals and their families. Every day the NAS helpline takes calls from people affected by autism who can't access the appropriate support and much more needs to be done at a local level to provide the necessary services."


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