News story

Fulfilling and rewarding lives: the strategy for adults with autism in England

The first autism strategy for England marked a fundamental change in public services helping adults with autism to live independent lives and find work.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 7 August 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability and although some people can live relatively independently, others will have high dependency needs requiring a lifetime of specialist care. There are approximately 400,000 adults with Autistic spectrum disorders in England, around half of whom have a learning disability.

Published in March 2010, Fulfilling and rewarding lives: the strategy for adults with autism in England set a clear framework for all mainstream services across the public sector to work together for adults with autism.

Actions in the autism strategy include:

• a new National Autism Programme Board to lead change in public services set out in the strategy
• a programme to develop training with health and social care professional bodies (backed by a £500,000 investment)
• autism awareness training for all Job Centre Disability Employment Advisers
• guidance on making public services accessible for adults with autism, like improving buildings, public transport and communication
• a clear, consistent pathway for diagnosis.

Related documents

• Evaluating progress (April 2011)
• Statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the autism strategy (December 2010)
• Summary and response to the Consultation (October 2010)

Published 7 August 2011