Valuing 'EVERY' Autistic Person

Valuing ‘EVERY’ Autistic Person – join AIM and help us to ensure that the needs of ‘EVERY’ Autistic Person are met through the Autism Act and the National Autism Adults Strategy.

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AIM believes that it is essential that the strategy is powered by one vehicle and that it is not split up and passed on to other already up and running initiatives like ‘Valuing People Now’ to be included within its remit. Autistic Adults have waited a very long time for something that can at last begin to address their often specific and often complex needs.

Autism does not sit neatly into any other disability box. While AIM understands that the current economic climate is not good, we would like it to be remembered that this is the very first autism specific initiative that autistic adults have had. Our best hope of making sure that the strategy delivers it’s much needed promise is to ensure that the Strategy is not fragmented.

AIM has been ardently campaigning since March 2009 to ensure that ‘Every’ autistic adult is valued. While it might be possible to add some parts of the strategy to initiatives like ‘Valuing People Now’ AIM wonders how the rest of the strategy will be delivered for adults with Aspergers Syndrome and High Functioning Autism who are already lost within the system with many not existing at all.

AIM’s campaign ‘Valuing ‘Every’ Autistic Person’ already has over one thousand two hundred parents/carers and autistic adults who have added their names in support of what we believe is needed to drive forward the Adult Strategy.

AIM believes that the strategy requires Autism Specific Partnership Boards. Partnership Boards whose remit is solely wrapped around autistic adults, but who will also work closely with Children’s Services to ensure that the transition from child to adult’s services is as seamless as possible and that children are not lost to provision in during that transition. These partnership boards could be set up in a similar way to the Learning Disability Partnership Boards but would be totally autism specific and would also include autistic adults who have a learning disability.

AIM believes that we need to start addressing the needs of all autistic adults, because although some autistic adults do have a learning disability their autism must not be neglected. Learning disability services are not specifically designed to meet the needs of autistic adults who have a learning disability. Partnership Boards would be responsible for those elements of the Government’s proposals which relate to services for adults with autism.

An Autism Partnership Board would operate within the overall framework provided by Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs).

(LSPs) offer a framework for local partnership working, bringing together public, private, community and voluntary sectors in order to provide effective co-ordination.

Proposals for partnership working in relation to autism will fit within the overall umbrella offered by LSPs.

Close links between Autism Partnership Boards and LSPs will ensure a common direction and help to address wider issues, such as access to other local services, including transport. Autism

Partnership Boards will be responsible for:

•Developing and implementing the Joint Investment Plan for delivering the Government’s objectives;
• Overseeing the inter-agency planning and commissioning of comprehensive, integrated and inclusive services that provide a genuine choice of service options to autistic people in their local community;
• Ensuring that autistic people are not denied their right to a local service because of a lack of competence or capacity amongst service providers;• The use of Health Act flexibilities;
• Ensuring arrangements are in place to achieve a smooth transition to adult life for young people with autism. Autism Partnership Boards should particularly ensure that:
• Adults with ASC and carers are able to make a real contribution to the Board’s work;
• The cultural diversity of the local community is reflected in its membership;
• Local independent providers and the voluntary sector are fully engaged.

It will be the responsibility of the chief executive of the local council to ensure that the Partnership Board is in place. Membership should include senior representatives from social services, health bodies (health authorities, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)), education, housing, community development, leisure, independent providers, and the employment service.

Representatives of people with autism and carers must be enabled to take part as full members. Minority ethnic representation will be important in view of the Government’s commitment that their needs should not be overlooked. An Autism Development Fund and Implementation Support Team would need to be established.

While AIM is fully aware that not all Learning Disability Partnership Boards are working as well as they could be in some areas. However we are also aware that some now are delivering and that the good working practice that has been developed by successful Learning Disabilities Partnership Boards could be used to help set up Autism Partnership Boards.

The Autism Communities best hope of this strategy making the difference that is needed to build a better future for autistic adults will be to have autism specific providers, users, developers commissioners and policy writers under one umbrella where all of the main players and stakeholders can meet on a regular basis and can together plan the way ahead for autism services, provision, resources, training and awareness.

Autism made history by being the first ever disability to have a Bill make it’s way through every parliamentary stage and the Bill will now become an Act. The Act is the first ever disability-specific law in England.

AIM has been an official supporter of the Bill from February 2009. The Act is not the end of the road for AIM and other groups who have fought hard to make sure that the Autism Bill became and Act. Now we have to make sure that the first ever Adult Autism Strategy will include the nuts and bolts that are going to be required to affect the much needed change that the Autism Community needs to see. The Strategy will spell out how local services need to be improved to meet the needs of autistic adults.

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

There has never been a better time to engage with Local Authorities and PCTs. We can all make a difference and be the change that we all would like to see.

Ten thousand people muttering to themselves will never be heard but ten thousand people speaking together with ‘One Voice’ can make a difference.

You can keep up with our progress by following AIM on Facebook

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And also via our Blogs

http://aim-one-voice.blogspot.com/

http://aim1he.blog.co.uk/