High Court forces council to support teenager with autism

The family of a teenager with severe autism has won a High Court appeal to force a local authority to provide support for him once he turns 18.

The young man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has severe autism and severe hyperactivity disorder. His local authority, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, claimed he did not have “looked after” status because he was living in a specialist residential school funded by his education authority.

This lack of status meant he would not be eligible for the support he would otherwise have been entitled to from social services once he reached the age of 18.

Today, the High Court ruled in favour of the young man’s family.

Ed Duff, who worked on the case at the Children’s Legal Centre said: “The status entitles children to a number of benefits when they turn 18 such as housing, medical care and support until they are 21, or 24 if in education.

“It’s a really important and special status which means local authorities can’t just wash their hands of the young person once they turn 18. Unfortunately, some authorities don’t like these laws and seek to avoid them as they involve time and money.”

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