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Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

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Adults with autism conference report

The report of the adults with autism conference held on 10th and 11th June 2010.

The Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan for Wales

The Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan for Wales
The Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan for Wales will drive improvements across services for children, young people and adults.

Our approach for adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is to develop and improve services so they can fulfil their potential.

The Welsh Government is committed to improving the support systems and services provided for adults with ASD.

In April 2008 the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan for Wales was published.  It stated how people with ASD would be supported and how to ensure that support services provided by a range of organisations are delivered appropriately and in a co-ordinated fashion.

ASD Task and Finish Group

A key action within the document related to the establishment of a Task and Finish Group. Their goal was to identify specific issues that adults with ASD face and suggest ways of dealing with them by investigating, evaluating and reporting on the evidence presented.

Membership of the group comprised representatives from local authorities, the NHS, the voluntary sector and Welsh Government officials. The group considered and made recommendations in 5 key areas:

  • Diagnosis;
  • Access to services;
  • Community and monitoring support;
  • Employment and related issues; and
  • Housing.

The Task and Finish Group presented its report to the Welsh Government in October 2009.

In February 2010 the Deputy Minister for Social Services set out how the Welsh Government intended to take the recommendations forward.

Further areas for discussion

The group have been asked to consider some further areas that the Welsh Government needs to consider including:

  • The mental health needs of people with ASD and the accessibility of mental health services;
  • Addressing the findings from the Welsh Government commissioned research on older people with ASD;
  • Adults with ASD and the Criminal Justice System;
  • The implications arising for those with ASD in Wales resulting from the Department of Work and Pensions' (DWP) Welfare Reforms; and
  • Further and Higher Education.

Older people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Another key action in the ASD Strategic Action Plan for Wales was the commissioning of research into the prevalence of ASD in older people in Wales and their needs. This research was undertaken by the Universities of Bangor and Glamorgan.

Their research report ‘The Circumstances and Support Needs of Older People with Autism’ was published in February 2010.