The Autism Bill has made it through its final parliamentary stage and will now become the Autism Act. The Act is the first ever disability-specific law in England.

The Autism Act started out as a Private Members Bill, drafted by The National Autistic Society (NAS) and taken forward by Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan. The Bill was backed by a coalition of 16 autism organisations and had overwhelming parliamentary support, being backed by all the main political parties. 

The adult autism strategy

Download a copy of the Autism Act here

The Autism Act will guarantee the introduction of the first-ever adult autism strategy, which will set out how local services should be improved to meet the needs of adults with autism.

The strategy will cover a range of issues including health, social care, employment and training and, crucially, will be accompanied by guidance which places a legal obligation on local authorities and NHS bodies to meet certain requirements.

The strategy will be published by April 2010 and the accompanying legal guidance no later than December 2010.

The adult autism strategy, which will be published early in 2010, will set out the Government’s plans to tackle the isolation, discrimination and inequality routinely experienced by many adults with autism.

Download a PDF of the adult autism strategy for England here. 

The strategy sets out a number of key actions and recommendations for central Government as well as for local authorities, the NHS and Jobcentre Plus.

In particular, we welcome the following aspects of the strategy.

■Improved training of frontline professionals in autism.
■The recommendation to develop local autism teams.
■Actions for better planning and commissioning of services, including involving people with autism and their parents/carers in this process.
■Actions for improving access to diagnosis.
■Leadership structures at national, regional and local levels to support delivery.
■Proposals for reviewing the strategy to make sure that it is working.