Autism charities call out the Government’s ‘dismissive’ response to autism strategy

Autism charities have joined forces to condemn the Government’s ‘dismissive’ response to the House of Lords’ report on the Autism Act and the new autism strategy.

Ambitious About Autism, Autistica, the National Autistic Society, Autism Action and Autism Alliance UK say the response is unacceptable because it focuses on existing initiatives, such as the NHS 10-Year Plan, which makes no mention of autistic people in its 171 pages.

The charities also say that the House of Lords Committee made clear recommendations and articulated ‘powerfully’ the evidence of the distinct risks autistic people face and the need for specific, targeted, joined-up action.

Yet they say the response made vague commitments that will do nothing to address the real barriers autistic people face, and once again, autism is lost in generic strategies.

Take meaningful action on autism

The charities are now calling on the government to take meaningful action to make this right, as they see no evidence that the Government intends to develop a new national autism strategy, or do anything meaningful in compliance with the Autism Act or in response to the House of Lords inquiry. Despite the legal requirement and the expiry of the existing strategy in June, no timeline is provided.

They add that any delay means “autistic children, young people and adults will continue to face shorter life expectancy, higher risk of suicide, mental health crisis, exclusion from education, family breakdown, long-term confinement in mental health hospitals, and one of the lowest employment rates of any group in society. These outcomes are shameful.”

According to the statement, the Autism Act inquiry received more written evidence than any House of Lords inquiry ever, demonstrating the strength of public feeling and the depth of lived experience available.

The charities added: “Yet the Government’s response shows little understanding of the need to engage fully and meaningfully with autistic people and their families. References to community engagement in the Government’s response are conditional and dismissive.

“This was the moment for the Government to step up and show that it cares about autistic people and their families. By failing to do so, it is sending the opposite message and condemning autistic people to a continuation of the last 16 years of failure. This will be remembered when new policies are revealed on SEND, employability, and welfare.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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