The Autism Bill is back in Parliament for its third reading tomorrow (19th June). Having secured the Government’s support it is expected to pass to the House of Lords where it will be well on its way to becoming England’s first disability-specific law.
Mark Lever, chief executive of The National Autistic Society (NAS) said; “It’s hugely exciting that we are on the brink of a landmark piece of legislation, which could transform the lives of the thousands of people affected by autism who have been isolated and ignored for far too long. Without the right support autism can have a profound and sometimes devastating effect on individuals and families. There’s still some way to go so we will keep campaigning to make sure this critically important Bill becomes a reality.”
The Autism Bill was drafted by the NAS on behalf of a coalition of autism charities and is being championed through Parliament by Conservative MP, Cheryl Gillan. The Government’s commitment to improve support for adults with autism comes after the NAS revealed that at least 1 in 3 adults with the condition are experiencing serious mental health difficulties due to a lack of help. Under the Autism Bill the adult autism strategy, due at the end of this year, could hold local authorities and NHS services legally responsible for providing support for adults with the condition and ensure they have clear routes to diagnosis, assessment and support.
Earlier this month research by the National Audit Office also found that identifying and supporting just a small proportion more of the population of adults with autism could save the Government £67 million a year in the long term.
