Simon Baron-Cohen speaks out on lack of support for adults

The Director of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, Simon Baron-Cohen, has spoken out about the "patchy" services for adults with autism and the lack of progress in implementing the Autism Act's adult strategy across the country.

Speaking to Cambridge News following an NAS 'in conversation' event with John Bercow MP, Baron-Cohen said:

“The Autism Act in 2009 was a cause of celebration, because at last people with autism – especially adults who had been under the radar for services and support – were finally being discussed by the House of Commons."

He added: “All the Autism Act did was to call on the Department of Health to implement an autism strategy. That was fine, although it left the details to be worked out.

“In 2010, the DH published the Autism Strategy and on paper it looked good. But good intentions – to ensure rapid access to diagnosis, and a quick route to the clinical pathway of receiving life-long post-diagnosis support – need extra spending, and even penalties on those regions that are not delivering an excellent service.

“Regretfully, in too many parts of the country, services are still very patchy.”