Government Responds to Autism Bill
The NAS have announced that the government is to take action in line with the proposals in the private member’s bill currently before parliament. We still have to make sure that the government acts on its word. And it will be interesting to see how they propose to finance their proposals in the current economic circumstances. But for now let us enjoy a piece of good news on the autism front and another success for the NAS campaign strategy that has focused on provision rather than prevention.
Government Responds to Autism Bill
Dear Supporter,
I am delighted to write to you about a vital new Government commitment to improve the lives of people with autism. Thanks to your fantastic support, and the crucial help of Cheryl Gillan MP, we have together succeeded in persuading the Government to address all the issues raised by the Cheryl Gillan Autism Bill.
Government Announcement
In a joint Government statement to MPs, Phil Hope MP, Minister for Care Services, and Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, Minister for Schools and Learners have announced a far-reaching set of initiatives to improve the lives of people with autism in England. The measures announced are a direct response to the Cheryl Gillan Autism Bill and address all the outcomes sought in the Bill.
The measures include:
* A new legal duty to ensure local authorities and other local agencies include children with autism in their plans for children’s services. This will be part of a new law to be introduced over the coming year.
* Statutory guidance for local authorities to reinforce the forthcoming adult autism strategy. The Government have pledged that this will be backed up with funding and support to ensure that “the final autism strategy will have the bite it needs to be delivered”. A consultation on the Autism Strategy will start in April.
These measures, and further details announced today, will compel local authorities to take account of people with autism and their needs, and enable people to challenge their local authority in court if they fail to do so.
What now for the Autism Bill?
Public and parliamentary support for Cheryl Gillan MP and the Autism Bill has been overwhelming. To date around 6,000 people have contacted their MP about the Bill, and we have now exceeded our target to have 100 MPs attend the debate in Parliament on 27 February (in fact we now have 115 MPs)!
The strength of public opinion and the knock-on effect in parliament has prompted the Government announcement above. The measures set out by Ministers cover all aspects of the Autism Bill. Cheryl Gillan MP said: “It was critically important to me that my Private Members’ Bill should cover an area that ordinarily would be overlooked ? today’s announcement is a testament to the weight of support from my colleagues and autism campaigners. I will keep campaigning until I hear the Government pledge to fully support people affected by autism in Parliament. The real test will be in how they implement this package of measures in the long term.”
The parliamentary support for autism that you have helped to build, and the debate on 27 February in the House of Commons, can now be used to secure these Government commitments, and to explore the details of how each measure will be implemented.
Thank you so much for your help in securing this huge step forward for people with autism.
With best wishes,
Mark Lever
Chief Executive
The National Autistic Society
Comment by Mo Ramzan | February 27th, 2009
Autism is a very cruel disability, because people with autism look ‘normal’, but they are not normal. My son has got Autism, he has chased me with a knife, he is not aware of what injury he can inflict on me. He is very vulnerable and easily led. I am very aggrieved that society does not help people with Autism. My child can’t get an educational statement, because his disability is not supported or recognised as a disability by local authorities. Therefore he will grow up in society, without being able to read and write for himself. It is unfair that people with Autism are not given rights, to give them life skills to help them through life. People with Autism need someone to guide them through life, for the whole of their life, because it is life long condition. I believe there is Law but no Justice.
Comment by Sharon | February 28th, 2009
This is such good news Mike. The NAS has done well to coordinate efforts on getting the bill this far.
Mo Ramzan, can I suggest that you contact the NAS for help in getting your child the help he needs. Local Authorities do recognise autism as a disability but sadly they often put barriers in the way of parents as if hoping they’ll give up and make do without help. You do not have to accept that your son will not learn to read and write or gain life skills.
That autistic people look “normal” (whatever that is) is irrelevant, and from what you’ve written, I’m sure you can see that it is not so much the autism that is cruel, but the difficulty people can have in getting the right support.
Comment by Tina | March 10th, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with individuals like Mark Lever who are fighting the good fight for children like my son. I will be eternally grateful to all of those people that have offered invaluable advice about the statementing process and schooling issues for children with autism. It has made a huge difference to our son.
God Bless all the special people who make a difference to lives of these children who have such a hard time in our society, particularly in our education system.
Comment by Emily Adams | May 11th, 2009
My thoughts each day are with parents/ carers who cares and supports our austitic generation, after cared for my beloved gran son for 20 years until he passed away on the 3/9/08. The barriers I had to go through and the social services and educational oceans I swam to get what was right for him, Local Authorities put up too much barriers in our way and because of all the tapes not just “red tape”(every colours) each day, you have to woke up to face another day of fighting, all because autistic people needs are so great,therfore in order to get their right as human beings we as parent/s have to fight in a mental way to get their needs met. Which is so wrong when some of these people are so at risk. I wish and hope that this Autism Bill will pass, to give parent/s some hope for the future.NAS please keep up the good work autistic people and their parent/s and carers needs NAS.
Comment by julie bennison | June 5th, 2009
Though i appreciate the autism bill and improvements to services for those with autism, i would like to know how this will be reinforced within the local authorities. My son has never recieve help through education, health or social services, higher education as they all say they have no money and tribuanals and court action dont work. My son has now gone onto being discriminated against in every job, benefits etc.
I have a son with aspergers who has never accessed any help despite going to every tribunal, complaint system, legal action possible. We are presently going through two tribunals.
If government does not reinforce in local authorities or law no one can improve services or even access them.
I will also state that government have policies in place which violate human rights and cause mass discrimination, which is occurring to my son everywhere he goes. This is because government insist my son has to disclose his disability everywhere to every agency, this causes mass discrimination as people discriminate against things they dont understand, which is definately complex disabilities like autism. Yet i have a documents which clearly states it is a violation of human rights to privacy to have to disclose your diagnosis or diablity.
Even the court insisted my son had a complete damaging, intrusive assessment which violated his privacy adn made him so vulnerage, yet he had all certificates, documents, medical reports to prove he had capacity, there was no need but it was so damaging he couldnt cope facing court.
If these two things are occuring then no wonder there is so much discrimination everytime someone hears my son’s diagnosis. And each time he tells someone what he can do, shows certificates etc, even the court wont listen, they query his capacity, which is another form of discrimination by putting him through complete assessments. Unless the government change the law and the example it gives (as its procedures discriminate adn also cause discrimination) how can anyone get near to recieving help, no one can cope with having to go to coninuous tribunals and complaints etc, and everyone knows people with autism are severely affected and their processing at a meeting, so they cannot respond or defend themselves.
Maybe governement should first look at how they are adding to the problems and maybe look at changing their discriminating laws, also put in place measures where people dont have to continuously go to damaging tribunals and court cases in which they still dont get any help!
Comment by julie bennison | June 5th, 2009
government should acknowledge the law has too many loop holes. their policies for their bill need to be addressed, because we find when you go to judicial review, special needs tribunals, employment discrimination tribunals, you also find your facing discrimination - which is so damaging you have to withdraw. If you have autism you cannot process/keep up with the topic at a meeting due to sensory problems, how can that be justice if you cannot process the consequences of what you were being asked till the following days after!no adjustment can be made for this.
When government address their own policies, human rights and do their job by enforcing local authorities with severe consequences for discrimination - and give us an easy process to address violations by law, then i will really believe they have a true intention of supporting those with autism. But they know we cannot do this because all the measures in place are set up to fail and are against us, so unless they prove this is not the case i have no faith in them.
Comment by bernadette | September 19th, 2009
I have a son who has aspergers with dyspraxia and adhd also sensory problems.In primary school he was fine they scribed for him let him use a laptop,scribed for his stats so his results were ok.I became increasingly worried that they would not ask for statement for him as they said “we can manage within our means” This is ok I protested but what about when he goes up to Secondry School.
Well now one year down the line he is not attending school at all at the moment as his stress was too great he has become violent and very hard to control at home his complete life seems to go on at 100 miles an hour,he shouts constently…we are living a hell at the min.The LEA’s response after getting a consultants letter was we maybe able to provide him with 5 hrs home schooling ( a stranger comming into his home …I dont think it will be that easy ) as I am sure you are aware strangers and Austism do not match…I am trying to force a statement request but it is so hard because at school he sits at the back staring out the window and fiddling with his pens the chair etc and does not bring attention to himself he is not seen as disruptive(ignore the fact he cannot process the information given refuses to do any homework cannot write more than a few lines,unable to express himself English being a real minefield (may as well be speaking in Chinese for what he understands of it)…What can we do Help. Desperate as the violence is increasing with his stress levels.
Comment by julie Bennison | September 26th, 2009
Hello Bernadette,
My son has all the complex difficulties your son has got. Have hope, in the end i had to help my son as school just damaged him and made him feel different and inadequate, my son also developed challenging behaviour when i tried to get help in place, as they refused and said negative and damaging things - that he had bad behaviour and needed dischipline rather than pay for specialist help.
To help your son improve communication with him. When he tells you something repeat back what he has said ie: ‘are you saying’ once you relay back to him your perception of what he has said he can then correct you - so he feels listened to and heard, as they use wrong discriptive words, or have limited language but dont realise they havent explained things properly until you repeat what they said back and your understanding of what they mean. Also ask him for facts of events, from the first fact, then what happened next ie; but you mustnt do this till he has calmed down. teach him to relay what has happened in fact and with no exaggeration or presumptions. correct him each time he brings exaggeration or presumption into the equasion
When he does his homework his mind is blank and will not prompt him. structure his homework, look through it only turn it into a list of questions, ie look for what information is required then give him a list of questions he has to complete. Read it to him help him go through the list of questions, he can do his homework he just needs it read to him and then to be asked a list of questions to prove he does now what he is doing , this will improve his confidence and shows him he can do the work if you take away the need to read and recognise the need to structure. your son has developed difficult behaviour because he cannot communicate and feels no one understands , help him, my son had serious challenging behaviour also because of the negative way they treated him at school. When a parent points out to the school that they feel they are not helping the child professionals can get very defensive adn take it personally, becuase they dont realise it is not a reflection on their teaching capacity they need specialist training to understand and communicate with your son, if they fail at this basic need, this is why he is looking at the window and not responding, give your son all the support you can, dont rely on the professionals to help, distressing and scary i know.
Comment by David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. | May 24th, 2010
Sad to say…
For a country that is supposed to be as modern as Finland is…
Nobody here as even talked about having a national policy/strategy for autism. The disabled in this country are treated very poorly by the municipalities and by the state organisations too.