Hart & Rushmoor Branch

The Autism Bill has made it through its last parliamentary stage, and will now become the Autism Act 2009: the first ever disability-specific law for England.

The Act will guarantee a future Adult Autism Strategy that will introduce a range of duties to improve local services.

For more information visit the NAS website at www.autism.org.uk/autismact2009 

The Autism Act will guarantee the introduction of the first-ever adult autism strategy, which will set out how local services should be improved to meet the needs of adults with autism.

The strategy will cover a range of issues including health, social care, employment and training and, crucially, will be accompanied by guidance which places a legal obligation on local authorities and NHS bodies to meet certain requirements.

The strategy will be published by April 2010 and the accompanying legal guidance no later than December 2010.

The NAS will of course continue to campaign until the strategy makes a real difference to people affected by autism.