Assembly Member backs autism charity calls (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Assembly Member backs autism charity calls

February 3, 2011 10:00 PM

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, Eleanor Burnham has welcomed a new report published by the National Autistic Society Cymru (NAS Cymru) into services for people affected by autism, and has called on the Welsh Assembly Government and local authorities to continue to develop autism support in Wales.

Titled The Life We Choose: Shaping Autism Services in Wales, the report reveals that many people affected by autism say that their needs are still not being met. For example, 54% of adults with autism who were surveyed said that they were not getting all of the services and support that they needed.*

The report is based on a consultation period in 2010 with hundreds of people affected by autism in Wales, including individuals and their families, parents and carers, and professionals. It demonstrates that while a lot of good progress has been made across the country, many people still say that a lack of available services and professional understanding, an inflexible system, and not knowing how to access support remain key barriers.

Eleanor has also subscribed to a statement of opinion in support of the Life We Choose report,.

Commenting, Eleanor said, "Autism is a lifelong condition and something which has an impact on the entire family. 59% of parents and carers said that a lack of timely support had resulted in higher support needs in the longer term. We can save money in the long run by better services now."

In 2008, the Welsh Assembly Government launched its ASD Strategic Action Plan, which outlined how government and local agencies would seek to meet the needs of people with autism and their families. This ten year strategy is coming to the end of its third year of implementation. The Life We Choose report highlights a number of examples of promising work in Wales which have been developed since this strategy was published, but has warned that progress may be put in jeopardy if the strategy is not backed with suitable funds and expertise in the coming years.

Rebecca Evans, NAS Cymru Policy and Public Affairs Officer said:

"Our report is based on the largest ever study of the views and experiences of people affected by autism in Wales. The research highlights a number of fundamental problems that many people face, such as the difficulty in accessing diagnosis, gaps in awareness of autism in schools, the struggle to get services and support from adult social services, and a lack of autism-appropriate respite provision. With the initial three-year implementation phase of the ASD Strategic Action Plan coming to an end, we reach a critical milestone and it is vital the Assembly Government and local authorities do not allow the momentum to be lost."