People with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are falling through the gaps between mental health and learning difficulty advocacy services.
A new report from the National Autistic Society (NAS), 'Autism: the demand for advocacy', finds that although two thirds of advocacy organisations surveyed claim to support people with ASD, only 11 per cent of people with ASD believe they are getting access to the advocacy services they need.
NAS attributes this discrepancy to advocacy providers not prioritising people with ASD because of a lack of government funding and appropriate training.
The charity is calling for better availability and access to independent advocacy services, and is launching a three-year initiative to help independent advocacy organisations become more responsive to the needs of people with autism.
NAS has also called on social care minister and chairperson of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism, Stephen Ladyman, to devise a “national strategy for adults with ASD”. This would include the targeting of funding to independent advocacy services for people with ASD.
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