The Government reaffirmed its committment to the Autism Bill today, with particular focus on adults and women with autism.
Care Services Minister Phil Hope today pledged a national autism strategy, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the Autism Bill – the first time parliament has ever debated a specific bill to deal with autism.
Speaking at a Fabian Women’s Network fringe at Labour party conference, Mr Hope stressed the need for more research, and a greater focus on females and adults with autism. He said:
“On this particular issue around gender discrimination, the visibility of girls and women with autism not being seen and identified, it’s exactly that kind of issue which a national strategy needs to contain from the outset, but also, as we learn more, we can review the strategy and make sure it’s as up-to-date and relevant as new research becomes available.
“A lot of work is being done about children, but I think adults with autism have been completely overlooked until now – that is the reason for the focus on adults. And that strategy not only has to exist in law but we will issue statutory guidance to local authorities and primary care trusts to make sure it is implemented.
“Whether it’s dealing with issues today generally about social care and support or whether it’s about some of the specifics of helping people with autism, I think we can be proud of what we have achieved, we have put this high on the political agenda we have raised it right to the very top of what people are most concerned about.”
The news comes the day after the Prime Minister announced the creation of a National Care Service, which will provide home-care for 350,000 families looking after relatives with conditions like dementia and Parkinson’s. The £400 million cost of the proposals will be met mainly by cutting parts of the current health budget, including some medical research, management consultancy costs, advertising and IT programmes.
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5 Responses to “New strategy for helping people with autism”
Swagata
The verbatim use of government press releases is not always evidence of non-partisan blog! Many of us are wary of big announcements which end up forgotten within months.
Laurence Marshall
You’re making autism sound like a disease or an enemy by using the term ‘tackle’. In fact it is a condition that needs to be managed.I can imagine headlines saying “New strategy to tackle knife crime”, but is it not offensive to say “New strategy to tackle Down’s Syndrome,” like your headline? Really, you should have said something along the lines of “New strategy aims to help those with autism”. I think you should apologise to those who fall on the autistic spectrum.
shamikdas
The headline has been changed. Swagata – this was not a government press release, these were the Minister’s words, spoken today.
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