System failing Autism sufferers
A report published: 'Autism: Rights in Reality, How people with autism
spectrum disorders and their families are still missing out on their rights'
claims that people with autism are still falling between the gaps when it
comes to getting the support and benefits they are entitled to.
Published by The National Autistic Society (NAS) to mark Autism Awareness
Week 2003 (11th - 18th May) the report shows that people with autism and
Asperger Syndrome don't fit current ways of thinking about disability nor
the eligibility used to measure support needs of people with disabilities
and their families.
The report found that over a third of carers (36%) openly admitted they didn
't understand the benefits system with 64% of those who had claimed saying
they had problems with filling out the forms. Where people were able to get
an element of help they needed, they had had to fight for it; of those
receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 30% had gone to appeal to obtain
their desired rate, rising to 45% of families on low incomes. Of those
claiming DLA only 7% were able to access any premiums that can accompany
this benefit. Despite the promotion of the Direct Payments initiative by the
Government only 4% of respondents were caring for someone who receives them.
The main groups less able to access support are people described as 'high
functioning', people in the transition age group (16-24yrs) and people with
the lowest household incomes. Carers were dissatisfied with the support
social services had provided, rising to 48% amongst carers of
high-functioning individuals. Many people were unable to find a social
worker they felt understood their needs.
Although the report identified some areas of good practice and some
individual professionals who excelled in dealing with autism and Asperger
Syndrome there are still many startling gaps in provision. While the two
most important services identified were social skills and play and leisure
facilities only 9% of respondents were receiving social skills training with
less than half of people saying they had appropriate play and leisure
facilities in their local area. Other areas looked at in the report were;
Transport, Housing, Advocacy and Support for Carers .
Steve Broach, co-author of the report said:
"People with autism spectrum disorders continue to find themselves doubly
excluded, first as a result of their social and communication impairments,
and then because support services are not designed or equipped to
effectively meet their needs. The Government has started to address this
exclusion, particularly for children, but more needs to be done. An urgent
priority is autism awareness training and job-specific training in autism
for all professionals working with this group. Families affected by autism
also need more and better information to help them access their full range
of rights and entitlements."
Autism Awareness Week is from 11-18th May 2003 events being held can be
found on their website - www.nas.org.uk
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