New autism strategy must deliver change for autistic people, says House of Lords special inquiry committee

This is the key conclusion reached by the House of Lords special inquiry committee on the Autism Act 2009 in its report published today.  

The report ‘Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy' finds that the Autism Act was a critical step forward in the recognition of autistic people, but successive Governments have failed to deliver real change. 

The Autism Act says the Government must produce an autism strategy, backed up by statutory guidance for the NHS and local authorities. But sixteen years on, autistic people still face unacceptable inequalities. This holds them back from living fulfilling lives and society from an inclusive future. Statistics show that currently: 

• More than 200,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment. 

• Thousands of autistic children and young people are unhappy at school or out of school altogether.  

• Only about 3 in 10 autistic people are in work, compared to 5 in 10 disabled people and 8 in 10 non-disabled people.  

• On average, autistic people live shorter lives.  

The Government autism strategy for 2021 to 2026 set ambitions reflecting the key priorities of autistic people and those who support them. But, after the first year, there was no plan to deliver or fund the strategy. 

The Government must now develop and deliver the new autism strategy, so it is ready to launch when the current one expires in July 2026. The Government must identify priority outcomes, produce a costed, deliverable plan to achieve them, and make clear who is responsible and accountable for delivery.  

Too often, decisions about autistic people's lives are made for them, not by them. This must change. Autistic people and those who support them must be meaningfully involved in every stage of the development and delivery of the new strategy.  

As part of the new strategy, the Government must: 

• Launch a new initiative to improve understanding and acceptance of autism and expand mandatory training on autism for public-facing staff, produced with autistic people and those who support them.  

• Invest in driving down autism assessment waiting times, while also developing and scaling up effective models for identification, assessment and lifelong, stepped support. 

• Give services backing and incentives to provide low-level, integrated support to autistic people, to prevent care needs from developing and escalating into crisis. 

• Set a clear timeline and roadmap for strong community services to be put in place, so that provisions in the Mental Health Bill to end the unnecessary detention of autistic people and people with a learning disability can be commenced. 

• Enable local authorities and NHS bodies to provide services for young autistic people during the crucial transition to adulthood, bringing together support with education, employment, housing and mental health. 

• Build up capability for educating autistic children and young people across all types of educational provision, supporting high-performing specialist schools to act as centres of excellence. 

• Provide employers with better support and incentives to enable more autistic people to find, stay and thrive in work. 

• Develop, test and roll out effective ways to identify and support autistic people involved in the criminal justice system as victims, witnesses or offenders. 

Baroness Rock, Chair of the Autism Act 2009 Committee, said: 

“We are indebted to the hundreds of people who shared their experiences with us, including nearly 400 written submissions—which we believe to be a record number for a House of Lords Select Committee. We were constantly struck by the moving, and at times painful, testimonies of autistic people and those who support them, but also by the passion and determination they showed.

“Our report draws on their evidence to set out a path to addressing the needs and aspirations of autistic people through the new autism strategy. To make the new strategy a success, the Government must set realistic goals, make a plan to deliver them, monitor progress, and work together with autistic people and those who support them to build change.  

“The Government must now use our findings to fulfil its commitment to bring forward the new autism strategy on time in July 2026. We will judge the Government's response against that commitment. Autistic people deserve nothing less.”