Employment for autistic people and delivery of NHS and local authority services
On Monday, the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Committee will be holding two evidence sessions as part of its inquiry into the Act.
During the first session the committee will hear further evidence on key barriers to enabling autistic people to find and stay in work and effective ways to overcome those barriers.
The second session will look at the commissioning and delivery of NHS and local authority services for autistic people in the context of the Autism Act 2009.
Giving evidence at 14:45 will be:
- Sir Robert Buckland KC – Ex-Chair, Buckland Review of Autism Employment
- Professor Amanda Kirby – Chair, Neurodiversity employment academic panel
- Sir Charlie Mayfield – Chair, Keep Britain Working Review
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- What are the comparative benefits and limitations of examining access to employment through a lens of either autism, neurodiversity, or ill health and disability?
- What is the evidence on the main barriers to entering work for autistic people, people who are neurodivergent, and people with a disability or health condition, including during the transition to adulthood?
- What are the main barriers to staying and progressing in work for autistic people, people who are neurodivergent, and people with a disability or health condition?
- What is the evidence on emerging and possible future trends in employment for autistic people, people who are neurodivergent, and people with a disability or health condition? What are the drivers of these trends?
Giving evidence at 15:50 will be:
- Simon Froud – Director of Adult Social Care and Statutory DASS, Telford & Wrekin Council; and Sponsor, West Midlands ADASS learning disability and autism network
- Dr Emma Bradley – Consultant Paediatrician at Sirona Care & Health and Chair, Royal College of Paediatricians specialist advisory committee for Community Child Health.
- Dr Victoria Bates – Sirona Care & Health
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- Who is responsible and accountable for ensuring autistic people can access the support they need on a local and regional level? How clear are the lines of responsibility and accountability?
- How far is a meaningful local autism partnership arrangement that sets a clear direction for improved services being achieved?
- To what extent do autistic people have access to the assessment, diagnosis and support services they need?
- What are the main barriers to commissioning low-level services to meet the needs of autistic people, and what would be the best ways to overcome these barriers?
- How well do general local authority and NHS services meet the needs of autistic people (diagnosed and undiagnosed)?
The sessions will take place on Monday 2 June and can be followed live on parliamentlive.tv
