UK Government to spend £500,000 on Autism
The UK Labour government has announced it will spend £500,000 on a new strategy for Autism.
The Guardian web site report begins:
“Adults with autism are set to get the same access to jobs, education and good health care as everybody else following a pledge from government today in its first autism strategy for England.
Care services minister Phil Hope says the strategy is not about creating a raft of new services, but about reorganising those that exist to help people with autism better. “The success of the strategy will depend upon those existing services changing to recognise and respond to the needs of people with autism,” he says.
Although a modest amount of new money – in the shape of £500,000 to train frontline professionals to better recognise and understand autism and its needs – is being announced, the strategy is expected to be implemented without substantial extra finance. The first year’s delivery plan will be published later this month.”
This is a tiny amount of money, it’s obviously totally inadequate. Giving some perfunctory training to front line professional isn’t enough.
The whole of society needs to be educated about Autism. Employers in particular and employees need to be educated in understanding Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
