Nottinghamshire Asperger's Team: SAVED!

Nottinghamshire County Council has today announced that they are dropping their proposal to scrap their pioneering Adults with Asperger’s Team. The proposal, made as part of their Budget Challenge 2014/15, has been reversed in response to concerns raised by people with autism and their families.

As part of the Push for Action campaign, The National Autistic Society has been working to support local people and organisations such as Autistic Nottingham to campaign against the closure. The team provides social care support, care planning and person budgets to around 200 people with Asperger syndrome and was the first specialist social care team in the UK. Set up in recognition of the fact that people with Asperger syndrome were falling between learning disability and mental health services, the team is regarded as an example of best practice and is frequently held up as so by both the our charity and the Government.

Tom Purser, our Senior Policy & Participation Officer said:

"Today’s announcement will come as a tremendous relief to the many people who contacted the NAS to express their concern about the  proposal. We have worked to support local people and groups such as Autistic Nottingham to speak up and have their views heard by the Council, and we’re delighted that they have been listened to.

"Nearly 5,000 adults in Nottinghamshire are thought to be living with autism, and it’s crucial that appropriate support is available to those who need it.”

Autistic Nottingham is a user-led support group and has worked with the NAS to marshal the support of their members and the autism community more widely to oppose the cut and have their voices heard. We are delighted that the Council has listened and that people with Asperger syndrome can continue to be supported by team with specialist knowledge that understands their needs.

Matthew McVeagh from Autistic Nottingham said:

"Autistic Nottingham is very glad and relieved to hear the news that the county council will not after all be closing its dedicated Adults with Asperger's service. This is a great result for people with Asperger syndrome in Nottinghamshire and by extension elsewhere, as it is essential that people with autistic conditions receive appropriate care and help everywhere in the country. 

"In general services for autistic people are growing so it would have been a backwards step if the Nottinghamshire County team, nationally considered a flagship scheme and example of best practice, had been ended. We now look forward to continuing to work with the Team to improve the lives of adults with Asperger's in Nottinghamshire."