Future Plans
There is lots to be done to improve the lives of autistic people in the UK, but we are a charity with limited resources, so we will always focus those resources on issues that will have the biggest and most positive impact for autistic people.
As we grow, we will work with autistic people, through our Community Advisory Panel, to ensure we prioritise the issues that matter the most.
Education
Autistic children and their families are often let down by the education system, which doesn’t provide sufficient opportunities in either mainstream or specialist schools.
Autistic children have a right to the same educational opportunities as their peers; we want to ensure every child can fulfil their potential in an educational setting that is right for them, with the right support in place.
26%
of autistic pupils feel happy at school.
74%
of school places not fully meeting needs.
26%
of parents waited over 3 years to receive support.
98%
of successful appeals against local authorities.
Sports and Physical Activity
We know that autistic people are often excluded from clubs and activities because they can’t meet their needs.
Breaking down barriers and increasing participation will have positive benefits across both physical and mental health, as well as connecting autistic people with their wider communities and – by giving more people experience of working and playing alongside autistic people – improve public understanding and acceptance of autism.
Criminal Justice
In a study by Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre, defence lawyers reported that half of their autistic clients were not treated as vulnerable adults, despite the law recognising them as such.
In addition, half were not provided with the required appropriate adult to safeguard their rights, and only 25% received reasonable adjustments, leaving them at a significant disadvantage.
Our hope is that in the future we can help the justice system become autism-friendly, to ensure autistic adults are treated fairly.
