At yesterday’s debate on the new Care Bill, which is currently in Committee stage in the House of Lords, a number of Peers spoke about the importance of ensuring that the Bill improves services for adults with autism.
Lord Touhig said “social care must no longer be the service of last resort. Under the current system, too many people become eligible for support only when their needs become acute and they require intensive high-level care and crisis management.”
He added “Many adults with autism would benefit greatly from low-level services such as befriending or social skills training. These would help them to avoid isolation and allow them to participate fully in society. A lack of access to these services can have a devastating impact.”
Baroness Greengross spoke about the importance of recognising, preventing and reducing the needs of older people with autism. She said local areas should invest in services that have the potential to reduce needs over time and she asked the Minister to ensure that the Bill calls on local authorities to take note of “for example, the NICE guidelines on adults with autism (which) states that investing in employment support is cost effective.”
The next debate on the Care Bill will be in the House of Lords on the 9th July.
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