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Autism charities in the UK have joined forces to call on the Government to invest in a long-term strategy to reform the systems that diagnose and support autistic people.
The report, A New Path Ahead: Why systemic change is the key to better lives for autistic people, sets out the case for systemic change and explains how it might be achieved.
Recommendations include enabling access to diagnosis for those who need it, treating every person as an individual with unique strengths and support needs, providing high-quality support across the UK, and adapting to a person’s changing needs.
Leading autism charities, including Autism Alliance, the National Autistic Society, Austica and others, have jointly released the report, developed in collaboration with autistic people, parents and carers, researchers and clinicians.
It highlights the benefits of systemic change, including better outcomes, more cost-effective spending, and economic gains. It also recognises that support and adjustments that work for autistic people are likely to have far wider benefits for other groups and for everyone.
Independent Review into mental health, ADHD and autism
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The report says that rising rates of autism diagnosis across the past 20-25 years have come into focus in 2026 due to underinvestment in clinical assessment services, meaning there is unsustainable pressure in the system.
Charities are therefore concerned about a lack of action from the government to review the systems that support autistic people to meet their needs. Demand for diagnosis is growing, and so too are waiting lists. Health, social care and education systems are struggling to give autistic and other neurodivergent people the support that they need.
The government is also due to develop a new autism strategy, but has delayed this, instead commissioning an Independent Review into Mental Health, ADHD and Autism. The report is designed to inform the final report of the Independent Review and subsequent policy response.
Autistica’s Interim Chief Executive, Rebecca Sterry, said: “Too many people are waiting too long for an autism diagnosis. When they get one it often doesn’t give a real picture of the individual: their strengths, needs and any other neurodevelopmental differences that they might have. And too often in the current system, the result is people simply not getting the support they need.
“To get this right, we need earlier, personalised support which will prevent needs escalating, save the UK economy money, and change people’s lives. But the whole system needs to adapt to make this work. We and others are helping to develop the evidence for these new approaches, we want to see government support to take it further.”
