“Everything is a fight – it should not be a fight. To get a diagnosis is a fight, to get the correct support is a fight, getting the right education is a fight. It’s never ending and it shouldn’t be like that. It’s basically a question of money and understanding: there are too many obstacles in the way.”
Autistic adult and focus group participant, 2023

 

The Autism Alliance, of which Autism Anglia is a proud member, have been working to create a report about the inequalities faced by autistic people. 

The report highlights that there is a significant gap in care for autistic adults in England and it is time to change that. It would take between 0.4% - 0.7% of the current social care budget to close this gap and the Autism Alliance are working to not only bring light to this fact, but actively calling for the government to address the issue. 

Autism Anglia are proud to work with the alliance and share the findings with you.

 

 

Facing some of the greatest inequalities of any group, autistic people are further disadvantaged by a system of care that cannot meet their needs, preventing them from living well and actively in their communities and taking up employment. The Care Act 2014 is clear that needs for care should be met, but the law is being broken daily across England because of a lack of Government investment. Autistic adults and their families are being pushed to breaking point.

The issues faced by autistic people in accessing care are symptomatic of the wider crisis in social care across England. Autistic people have reached breaking point, and the social care system is close to breaking too. But crucially, the principles that would improve care for autistic people will also improve care for everyone, and the Government should use the voices of autistic people as a 
guide for wider reform.

The findings of this work is echoed by leaders and commissioners in local government. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services Spring Survey 2023 revealed that three quarters of social care directors across English councils say they ‘aren’t confident’ about being able to fully offer the minimum social care support in their communities required by law, such as the availability of the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

 

 

77%
of autistic adults reach crisis 
point before care and support is 
provided.

48%
of autistic adults receiving 
social care say it does not meet 
their needs.

44%
of autistic adults wait more 
than 2 years for care and 
support to be provided.

58%
of autistic adults receive poor 
support during the process of 
trying to get social care.

56%
of autistic adults don’t try to 
get care and support because 
they don’t think they’ll get it.

 

To read the report in full, please visit below.

Please also share the report - the louder we shout, the more likely it is that we're heard. 

#breakingpointcampaign

Support the call — Autism Alliance UK (autism-alliance.org.uk)