Care Services Minister Paul Burstow on the Consultation of Her Majesty's Government - Implementing, Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives. The UK Autism Foundation fully supports this consultation.

Minister Paul Burstow:

'The Government shares your desire to do more to help individuals and families affected by autistic spectrum conditions. We have already made it clear the Government will press ahead with delivering the adult autism strategy, and we want to work closely with you to make this happen.

 Last week I published a new consultation – Implementing Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives – to gather views on how we make the strategy work in practice. I enclose a copy.

 The consultation contains draft guidance for health and social care bodies, which will help frontline staff translate the policy into practice, so that we can begin to achieve real change for those affected by autism.  This is a key step in ensuring that the Government fulfils the requirements laid down in the Autism Act 2009 to publish by the end of the year mandatory guidance for health and care bodies to give effect to the autism strategy. 

 This consultation will enable us to:

• ·hear the views of service commissioners and providers, service users and family carers and use those views to inform the development of the statutory guidance

• ·understand the expectations of adults with autism and their family carers in relation to health and social care services 
  

•  seek views on the issues in the consultation document on the provision of health and social care services for adults with autism

• ·gather more information about what services are currently provided for adults with autism and family carers, and how they could improve.

 Throughout the consultation process we will continue to work closely with key partners to ensure that the voices of people with autism and their families are heard and given due weight.

 I hope you will read the enclosed guidance and respond with your thoughts and ideas by 22 October 2010.

 We need your support, expertise and commitment to extend new hope for people with autism. The financial climate may be tough, but if we work together then I believe we can still make a big difference for adults with autism.

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Photo by: Keith Edkins