NAS Newsletter.........

Carey2 · 22nd February 2008, 16:16

Quote:

Welcome to the NAS monthly newsletter.
This month, we launched the second stage of our think differently about autism campaign: it's called I Exist, and it focuses on the desperate lack of services and support for adults with autism. To give us the information we needed to back the campaign, we undertook the largest ever survey of adults with autism, their parents and carers, and local authorities and health services across the UK.
Without those of you who took part in the survey this phase in the campaign wouldn't have been possible: thank you all so much. You told us that:
two-thirds of adults with autism do not have enough support to meet their needs
three-quarters of parents whose children live at home with them have not had carers' assessments and receive no support from their local authorities
two-thirds of local authorities believe that their support workers have insufficient training in autism; and most felt that they would benefit from more guidance from Government about commissioning services for adults with autism.
The cause of adults with autism is an extremely pressing and important one, and very close to my heart. We're encouraging national governments and local authorities to think, act and transform lives.
I'd encourage you to visit our campaign website where there are lots of things you can do to get involved. You can 'click to lobby' your MP, send a campaign postcard or e-card, or upload your photo to our 'Be counted' photo wall.
You can read about the action surrounding the launch of our campaign and more news from the NAS below.
Best wishes

Jane Asher
President, The National Autistic Society

So what do you think?

The frightening thing is that parents are fighting to get help and an appropriate education for their children butb those children will soon enough be adults themselves and the services available for them are generally nigh on non existent.

Does this concern you?

vvw1970 · 24th February 2008, 10:53

It's a very worrying thing. The concept seems to have struck at least a beginning in Australia, with federal funding starting to be put into this pressing issue. I do see an independent future for my child, but I know many kids on the spectrum, and I can see many of them needing to stay at home with their parents indefinitely, with limited stimuli and restricted opportunity for development and/or success.

This is an area which needs serious work throughout the world. I think it's possibly an issue which will stimulate a great deal of debate as well. I have a friend who works in a facility in the Netherlands, taking care of adults with Autism who tend to be aggressive when stressed. The residents live in the facility full-time, with 24 hour staff. In some respects what I hear from my friend is not dissimilar to what I've seen on dementia wards, and while I know the intentions are the best we could ask for there, I have to wonder seriously whether it's the best option.

It would be good to see/read what people imagine would be good for highly dependent autistic children once they become adults.