Call For Action

We are making a nation-wide appeal across the Political Spectrum of both national and local policy makers and legislators to further improve their knowledge and understanding of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The following points are our Call for Action

Call for Action (1)

We require the diagnosis to be made by someone who has experience and understanding of Autistic Spectrum Disorders and/or developmental disorders, preferably someone with a medical background.

Once a diagnosis is in place the diagnostician may be on hand or available for any possible follow up appointments or consultation with the individual and/or their family. Furthermore the diagnosis must be seen and recognised as a separate disability to that of learning disabilities and/or mental health disorders.

Call for Action (2)

We require that once someone has received a diagnosis it should be seen and viewed by everyone as a golden key for services as and when required for that person and/or their family.

Therefore it should not matter who makes the diagnosis, whether it's someone from the public or private sector, except under the proviso that the diagnostician has the knowledge and experience of Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

It should be recognised and unchallenged without question from other people including professionals across all sectors, including DLA and other disability benefits.

Call for Action (3)

We require services to be autism specific in that they are autism specific to the individual.

Services must be individually led by the person with autism but with the flexibility, innovation and initiatives to change as and when required and/or needed. To this end this would reduce and hopefully end the postcode lottery that we have at the moment for basic services, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and respite etc. All of which are vital for a person with autism to grow and develop.

Call for Action (4)

We require more investment, reform and understanding within all services as well as ongoing collaboration with the public, private and voluntary sectors. Hence all walks of life....

This includes ongoing autism specific training for newly qualified professionals e.g. nurse, doctors, teachers and those in management etc.

This would be a part of an employees continued professional development.

Call for Action (5)

It is imperative to note that autism is a lifelong disability, hence someone who is born with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, will die as someone with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Services must be based on lifelong learning with support services for parents and carers as well as users for people in their third age.

When someone comes up for a transitional review either at fourteen, sixteen or nineteen the next stage should start to be implemented as to create and develop an overlap between different agencies or departments. This overlap should be carried through and handled correctly and sensitively when a person and their circumstances change again e.g. between adult services and elderly care services.

We welcome, encourage and support joined up thinking and working, collaborative and inter-agency working of the statutory agencies of health, social services and education.

Where necessary and appropriate, sendees must liase with the individuals, their family including parents and/or carers. We also need to encourage professionals to share and disseminate their experiences, expertise, knowledge and good practice internally, especially externally with other organisations and colleagues alike.

We make this Call for Action with One Voice.

Our aim is to improve the quality of life for those with autism and their parents and carers - to end the isolation, frustration and constant daily battle faced by thousands each day in an attempt to access services and resources required to give us a Fair Deal.