News Release, 16 November 2001
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, part of the Mental Health Foundation, has produced a new guide to help planners and providers of services for children with an autistic spectrum disorder. The Guide to Services for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders for Commissioners and Providers contains vital information for professionals, including teachers, GPs, psychologists, social workers and community nurses. It is also useful for parents who want information on appropriate services for their child.
It is estimated that there are half a million people in the UK with an autistic spectrum disorder, with diagnosis on the increase. An early diagnosis followed by effective intervention can potentially make a profound difference to the development of a child with autistic spectrum disorders.
The guide aims to help authorities fulfil their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and to provide a range of services to meet the needs of the individual child with an autistic spectrum disorder. It highlights the need to develop a strategy to understand, address and meet the needs of these children and their families at an early stage, and plan services on an inter-agency basis. Crucially, it stresses the importance of seeing each child as an individual with individual needs, with early diagnosis only the first step in an ongoing process of regularly reviewed support.
"The provision of specialist training is essential if there is to be early diagnosis and effective intervention. Available services will need the flexibility to adapt as a child's needs change over time," says Hazel Morgan, head of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, "It is impossible to overstate how important it is that families of children with autistic spectrum disorders be given the support and training that they need."
The Guide to Services for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders for Commissioners and Providers gives an overview of autistic spectrum disorders and the developments in education and social welfare that relate to those disorders. The first section of the guide provides detailed information on definition, identification and diagnosis. The second covers services across health, education, leisure, parental support and the transition to adult services. The final section explores quality in services and includes a helpful summary of the key features that define it. There are useful appendices on autistic spectrum disorders and specialist provision in the UK, along with extensive references and a list of contacts.
The guide was written by Hugh Morgan, Chief Executive Officer at Autism Cymru, Glenys Jones, educational psychologist at Birmingham University, and Rita Jordan, autistic spectrum disorder trainer at Birmingham University.
Return to news releases 2001
Note to editors
For further information and interview requests contact please contact the press office on 020 7803 1105 / 1128 or email the press office
The Foundation promotes the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families. We do this by working with people with learning disabilities, their families and those who support them to:
- Do research and develop projects that promote social inclusion and citizenship
- Support local communities and services to include people with learning disabilities
- Make practical improvements in services for people with learning disabilities
- Spread knowledge and information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
