Improving services for adults with autism: a national
conference
Thursday 15 October
2009, The Bloomsbury Hotel,
London WC1B 3NN
Video and audio downloads from the conference are now
available:
Conference details
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability
which affects people's ability to communicate socially, and to
understand the emotions and behaviour of others. Some adults
with autism can live independently, without any additional support,
while others require a lifetime of specialist care. There are
estimated to be 433,000 adults with autism in the UK, with an
estimated cost to the economy of some £25 billion.
This conference focused on the findings
and recommendations of the National Audit Office Report Supporting people with autism through
adulthood and the subsequent Committee of Public Accounts
hearing and report, examining the range of services for adults with
autism and their carers in England.
The Government is currently carrying out a
consultation on their future strategy for adults with autism, to be
published by Spring 2010. In May this year, the Adults with Autism
Bill was introduced to Parliament and imposes a duty on the
Government to issue guidance to local delivery bodies to ensure the
autism strategy is implemented.
This conference was of particular interest to
decision-makers, planners, commissioners and practitioners engaged
in developing and delivering services for adults with autism,
including people with autism and their carers.
The conference covered:
- Progress on the Government's National
Strategy for adults with autism
- How joint commissioning across health and
social care, supported by multidisciplinary working, can help
develop a holistic approach to services for adults with autism
- How developing more effective strategies and
planning services can smooth the transition between children's and
adult services, and improve quality of life for adults with
autism
- How targeted support for adults with
high-functioning autism could improve outcomes by facilitating
access to more appropriate and cost-effective services
Speakers included:
- Mark Lever, Chief Executive, National
Autistic Society
- Angela Browning, MP for Tiverton &
Honiton and Member, Committee of Public Accounts
- Hardip Begol, Deputy Director, Special
Educational Needs and Disabilities, Department for Children,
Schools and Families
- Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General,
National Audit Office
- Geoffrey Maddrell, Chairman, Research
Autism
- Caroline Waters, Director, People and Policy
for BT Group
- Christine Austin, Team Manager, Liverpool
Asperger Team
- Paul Johnson, Service Manager, Nottingham
Adult Social Care and Health Department
- Simon Veasey, Service Delivery Manager,
Warwickshire Adult Health and Community Services
- Christina Earl, Team Manager, EmployAbility,
Surrey County Council
Conference location and
time
Thursday 15 October 2009
The Bloomsbury Hotel
London WC1B 3NN
09:30-16:30