National Autistic Society UK I EXIST CAMPAIGN - VICTORY.

HoxtonPaul · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

Government makes landmark commitment in response to NAS campaign

Hello, Paul Wady (HoxtonPaul) again. I have some good news from the National Autistic Society.

I am delighted to report a crucial win for the I Exist campaign. In response to the fantastic efforts of all campaigners, the government has demonstrated a major commitment to improving the lives of adults with autism, with a raft of measures building towards a landmark national adult autism strategy. About time. (No, this is not an April the First posting.)
Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services at the Department of Health, announced the following new measures last week:

• Research into the numbers of adults with autism
Our I Exist campaign identified the fact that nobody knows how many adults with autism there are. Research into this area will make it easier to plan and deliver the services that people with autism really need.

• Study of support needs of young people with autism
Many young people with autism find it difficult to achieve their potential in adulthood, because the level of help available dramatically declines once they reach school leaving age. The right support at the right time could make an enormous difference. (No!...)

• A full-time autism specialist post in the Department of Health
This was a key campaign demand for the NAS. Expanding expertise and leadership on autism is a crucial development which has the potential to radically improve the experiences of adults with autism. Can you exaggerate the importance of this one? (Only just announced so no word on who it is etc. but I hope to bring this information to the Autie universe very very soon…Hehehe.)

• A training summit for health and social care professionals
Many adults with autism say that professionals fail to understand the complexities of their condition, which can lead to them receiving inadequate support or no support at all. (You don’t say.)

Everyone out there having a good chuckle, well, what do you think it looks like when we get somewhere? (After kicking and smashing the bloody door for years, someone gently opens and goes ‘Hello?..Anyone there?..Oh!)

These new measures will apply in England, but we have also celebrated successes in other nations. Such as:

In Scotland, new guidance to help meet the needs of adults with autism was published by the Scottish Government on World Autism Awareness Day.

In Wales, an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan was published this month and includes a commitment to establish a group to identify specific issues that adults face and take forward work to tackle them.

I Exist will launch in Northern Ireland later this year. So you ai’nt forgotten there.

We aren’t finished yet. Email those MP’s and tell them about all this, then ask what they are doing for us in your home area. Download the postcard templates from the I EXIST campaign site and send them through the mail (remember that) onto your Director of Adult Social Services. (You know them, the nice people who are suppose to help your family, yourself, etc. This being Britain, they probably don’t know you that well. They are going to…)

http://www.think-differently.org.uk/Take%20action%20now.aspxhttp://www.think-differently.org.uk/Be%20counted.aspx

The Be Counted messages board is still up and always will be. So pop over to the site and let the world know about yourself. About time. Together we are, actually now, changing the Social and Healthcare policies of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

http://www.think-differently.org.uk/Be%20counted.aspx

Okay, so thanks for reading. Get Active!!!

Paul Wady.