Autism Act has failed to bring meaningful change for autistic people, new Lords’ report finds

A new landmark report is urging the Government to enhance mandatory training on autism for public-facing staff, developed in collaboration with autistic individuals and their supporters as part of the new autism strategy.

The report, Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy, is from the House of Lords Special Inquiry Committee on the Autism Act 2009. The House of Lords requested that the Committee evaluate the effectiveness of the Autism Act, identify potential improvements for the future, and assess the achievements of the current autism strategy.

The Committee found that, while the Act, along with subsequent autism strategies and statutory guidance, has prompted national and local governments to acknowledge and address the needs of autistic individuals and has increased access to autism assessments, it has not successfully eliminated the barriers that autistic people continue to encounter.

The Committee’s main recommendation is that the Government must now urgently develop and deliver the new autism strategy, so it is ready to launch when the current one expires in July 2026.

It also wants the Government to identify priority outcomes, produce a costed, deliverable plan to achieve them, and make clear who is responsible and accountable for delivery.

The government must set realistic goals in the new autism strategy

Other recommendations include reducing wait times for autism assessments and developing identification and support models. Local authorities and NHS bodies should also provide services for young autistic people during the crucial transition to adulthood, bringing together support with education, employment, housing and mental health.

In addition, capability should be built to educate autistic children and young people across all types of educational provision, supporting high-performing specialist schools to act as centres of excellence.

Baroness Rock, Chair of the Autism Act 2009 Committee, said: “We are indebted to the hundreds of people who shared their experiences with us, including nearly 400 written submissions, which we believe to be a record number for a House of Lords Select Committee. We were constantly struck by the moving, and at times painful, testimonies of autistic people and those who support them, but also by the passion and determination they showed.

“Our report draws on their evidence to set out a path to addressing the needs and aspirations of autistic people through the new autism strategy. To make the new strategy a success, the Government must set realistic goals, make a plan to deliver them, monitor progress, and work together with autistic people and those who support them to build change.

“The Government must now use our findings to fulfil its commitment to bring forward the new autism strategy on time in July 2026. We will judge the Government’s response against that commitment. Autistic people deserve nothing less.”

Mental health and employment

The Committee is also calling on the Government to give services backing and incentives to provide low-level, integrated support to autistic people, to prevent care needs from developing and escalating into crisis. It also wants a clear timeline and roadmap for strong community services to be put in place, so that provisions in the Mental Health Bill to end the unnecessary detention of autistic people and people with a learning disability can be commenced.

On employment, the Committee believes autistic people can live fulfilling lives, and that society will have an inclusive future if employers are provided with better support and incentives to enable more autistic people to find, stay, and thrive in work.

Currently, more than 200,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment, and thousands of autistic children and young people are unhappy at school or out of school altogether. In addition, only about three in 10 autistic people are in work, compared to five in 10 disabled people and 8 in 10 non-disabled people.

Responses to the report

Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, said:  “It’s a perilous time for autistic children, young people and their families. Misinformation about autism is on the rise, thousands are stuck on waiting lists for assessments and support, while many struggle at school. This impacts their employment prospects and life chances as adults.

“This landmark report makes for difficult but important reading, confirming what so many of us already know – that the Autism Act 2009 has failed to achieve meaningful change for autistic people. Successive governments have been unsuccessful in tackling the systemic issues impacting autistic people in education, employment and health and social care. The Act’s subsequent strategies lacked implementation plans and necessary funding, meaning they were bound to fail. Autistic people and their families deserve better than this.”

Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “The Committee’s report is clear – despite 16 years of the Autism Act, governments have failed to break down barriers for autistic people.

“Autistic people face a constant fight for support and unacceptable inequalities, including a lower life expectancy of over five years compared to the general public. Too many autistic people are detained in mental health hospitals for no good reason. The number of people waiting for an autism assessment in England has increased by almost 250% since the publication of the current strategy.

“The Government must act on the report’s recommendations by investing in autism assessments and support; reducing health inequalities for autistic people; increasing community support; and increasing the employment rate for autistic people.

“To end 16 years of broken promises, the Government must deliver a new autism strategy in 2026, which is properly funded and with clear accountability. Autistic people must be meaningfully involved throughout its development. Now is the time to take action to create a more inclusive society that truly works for autistic people and their families.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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