The National Autistic Society recently launched their new Push for Action campaign. Four years on from the groundbreaking Autism Act 2009, too many adults with the condition are still waiting for the everyday support they need. Some need help to get washed and dressed, others need specialist support to find sustainable employment, and others just want to participate in their local community. It’s time to turn the Act into action and end their wait.

The National Autistic Society has conducted new research into what steps each local authority has taken to improve the lives of adults with autism in England. They have also collected the views and experiences of adults with autism, families and professionals so they can more easily hold their councils and health bodies to account.

The below attachment outlines the various steps and progress made by Medway Council. You can compare this with other local authorities at www.autism.org.uk/push

More information about the Push for Action campaign can be found at www.autism.org.uk/push.

About autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may need a lifetime of specialist support.

People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours. More than 1 in 100 people in the UK has autism.

About the NAS

The National Autistic Society (NAS) is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by autism. We have around 20,000 members and 100 branches, who are at the heart of what we do. We provide a wide range of advice, information, support and specialist services to 100,000 people each year. A local charity with a national presence, we campaign for lasting positive change for people affected by autism, and empower local people to influence change they will experience at a local level.