Educators and experts in healthcare oversight to give evidence on Autism Act 2009

Tomorrow (May 8) the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Committee will be hearing from two panels of witnesses.  

The first panel will consist of educators and specialists working in SEND education and the discussion will focus on education and transitions to adulthood. The second panel will be experts in healthcare oversight and the committee will question them on building support in the community and reducing health inequalities. 

Giving evidence at 10:15am will be: 

• Sarah Wild, Headteacher, Limpsfield Grange School  

• Dr Nicola Crossley, SEND representative, Association of School and College Leaders  

• Dr Anne Heavey, Director of Insights for Ambition Institute, and member, Department for Education SEND inclusion in education expert group 

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• What impact (if any) has the Government's autism strategy for 2021 to 2026 had on improving access to education for autistic children and young people? 

• What are the main barriers that schools and colleges face in providing access to education for autistic children and young people, including the roles both of inclusive practice and of formal identification and support? 

• What roles do schools and colleges play in supporting autistic young people with effective transitions to adulthood and what barriers do they face? 

• How effective (if at all) have the Autism Act 2009, the statutory guidance and the Government's autism strategy been in improving transitions to adulthood for autistic young people? 

Giving evidence at 11:20am will be: 

• James Bullion, Interim Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, Care Quality Commission  

• Professor Sheila the Baroness Hollins, former chair, Oversight Panel review of Independent Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews 

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• Could you outline how health and social care legislation sets out responsibility and accountability for providing autistic people with care and support? 

• To what extent are local authorities and NHS bodies fulfilling their responsibilities to ensure autistic people can access care and support? 

• To what extent do social care providers and NHS services provide autistic people with good quality care and support? 

• In what ways are local authorities and NHS bodies held to account for the care and support they provide to autistic people? 

• How well do the NHS, local authorities and social care providers learn from autistic people's experiences and handle feedback and complaints? 
   

The sessions will take place on Thursday 8 May and can be followed live on parliamentlive.tv