Autism Survey 2023

Activity closed. Results published.

Background

Our Adult Autism Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2022 [739KB] was due to be revised in October 2022, however in July 2021, the government published their new National Strategy for Autistic Children, Young People and Adults (2021-2026), which extended the scope of the strategy to include children and young people for the first time. 

This new strategy aligned with the existing government statutory guidance on implementing the Autism Act (2009) for local authorities and NHS organisations. Local authorities and NHS organisations continue to have duties to support autistic adults and local systems to deliver on existing requirements, including having active Autism Partnership Boards in local areas. For children with special educational needs and disabilities, the Code of Practice 2014 continues to place duties on local authorities, NHS organisations and schools in respect of children and young people. 

In their new strategy, the government set out six areas that would make a difference to autistic people and their families' lives:

1. Improving understanding and acceptance of autism within society. 
2. Improving autistic children and young people's access to education and supporting positive transitions into adulthood.
3. Supporting more autistic people into employment.
4. Tackling health and care inequalities for autistic people.
5. Building the right support in the community and supporting people in inpatient care.
6. Improving support within the criminal and youth justice system.     

To support the new National Strategy, the Adults Autism Partnership Board decided that our local document should be an All Age Strategy and Action Plan with the aim of improving the lives of autistic people and their families and carers in West Berkshire. 

Why we want your views

To help us write a draft strategy, if you're living with autism, we'd like to ask you about different aspects of your life to see how we can improve the lives of autistic people living in West Berkshire, by making our services better for them.  

We'd like to know about your experiences with local services, including education, health, employment, social care and local community resources, to better understand the challenges faced by autistic people, and whether you're receiving the support and information you need. It's important that we get the views of people who have used our services and those provided by other agencies and organisations, as you may have ideas about how they can be improved.  

In addition to the survey, we'll be meeting with autistic people, carers, professionals who work with autistic people, partner organisations such as NHS and the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and representatives from voluntary organisations, such as Autism Berkshire.

How to take part

If you'd like to take part, please complete our survey by midnight on Wednesday, 19 July 2023. It should take about 10-15 minutes.

If you have any questions about the survey, please email Hannah Cole - Service Manager (Adult Social Care) and Principal Social Worker

What happens next

Your feedback will be used to help us develop the Draft All Age Autism Strategy and Action Plan, which will be publicly consulted on in 2024 (delayed from 2023).