Live Chat on Transition - 21 March

Is it a law or just a guide of law ? ,, hence my distaste for governments, councils and institutional authorities, because that is what a STANDARD is ! A standard is best practice.

The system just now is were your autism pound is worth less or more than my autism pound depending on a post code lottery location and service.

Mikes point of reference to relate back to the Department of Health is a very good idea, but like courtcases for justice only 10% end up in court, with the remaining 90% cases can not access the system due to legal confusioon, economical and social barriers.

So one for case highlighted , there is another 9 unhighlighted.

This sounds like something out the mafia or sadams state handbook, but the DH should make an example of a few of these lagging authorities. Good can work the same way, it is the only way that priority is given, no risk, no bothered councils.

Paull,

My experience of these Acts in law are an outline brief, it is the governing body which sets up a real system, THERE SYSTEM not a parlimentary act system as such. So the sector accepts what the governing they wish. Here is the problem with that system, take the NAS with its 90million twice the amount of the office of fair trading department, it has the key role and it knows it, hence the government has given them all that money to be so, so that it does not go back to the law courts and standards are decreed by law via damages. How if there is power struggle between two competing autism organisation say the NAS and XYZ, you get a merger and standardised standards or lots of courtcases.

So what you are really asking is ,, WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS AND SYSTEM FOR AUTISM in the UK. The NAS role should be to rollout a standard without gaps,, however what you will find is that the NAS has the london standard whilst the rest of the UK starves so to say. If another body pushes the NAS, they will try and circle them in. POLITICS, POLITICS, my kingdom of POLITICS.

So, who is benefiting from the NAS and there government hush funding.

The reason there is no information nor link on this site, is because when you challenge the government on the Autism Act,, you challenge the NAS at the same time. The NAS is just a bridging agent between autistic people and the government, as a barrier and access system control.

ok thanks, sorry for my abruptness but its just a reflection of my desperation for help.

What I don't understand is when you say the process of enforcing these duties is not straightforward - I can't see a grey area - to me a law is either a law or not and I think as the law was passed in 2009 then there has been plently of time to put it into action. If the law says local authorities must do those things and they are not doing them then surely it means they are breaking the law ? If not then what is the point of making it law to begin with ?

Hi Paull,

Thanks again. I'm not sure I'd be a very good politician but I'll consider it should things not work out here at the NAS.

I have spoken with our team about your question and they say the statutory guidance is very clear in that is says: 

"DH guidance states that the DASS in each local authority should ensure there is a joint commissioner/senior manager who has in his/her portfolio a clear commissioning responsibility for adults with autism. This is the key leadership role locally and local authorities are expected to appoint someone." (page 23)

And further:

"Local authorities, NHS bodies and NHS Foundation Trusts should develop local commissioning plans for services for adults with autism, and review them annually." (page 24)

There are more relevant passages but suffice to say, these duties (appoint a lead, develop a commissioning plan) are two of the clearest in the statutory guidance and are two out of the seven things we have been specifically calling on local authorities to deliver and will continue to do so as part of this year's autism strategy review campaign.

The process of enforcing these legal duties is not necessarily straightforward but if you can tell us more details about which local authority it is then we can further advise on how to take it forward. It would also be helpful to know more so we can flag it to the Department of Health.

Wouldn't it have been easier just to answer my question directly rather than blurb like a politician.

Are my local authority breaking the law by not having a named commissioner /manager with responsibility for commissioning of services for adults with autism, and by not having a team to deal specifically with adults with Autism spectrum conditions ?

yes or no ?..... ....and still the link is not working...and you wonder why people here get so frustrated.

Hi Paull,

I see your point about the broken link. I have sent this on to our campaigns team and the IT department to check.

At the moment, we're putting the finishing touches to the plan to give this a huge push over the coming months. The Autism Act review is happening in 2013 so we will be putting a lot of emphasis on this campaign. This is due to launch within the coming months and as soon as we have actions people can take, we'll be sure to let everyone know.

Apologies for the broken URL - hopefully this will be up again soon.

Best wishes,
Mike, NAS 

hi Mike,

why is the most important page in NAS missing

www.autism.org.uk/.../the-autism-act.aspx

it says "Click here to learn how you can ensure your local authority is implementing the Autism Act." but goes to a 404 - forgive my suspicions but I just keep coming up against brick walls regarding this and I am trying to clarify this clearly.

Autism Act 2009 says by law the local authority must make provisions to meet the needs of adults with autism spectrum conditions, and also every local authority should ensure that there is a named joint commissioner/senior manager with responsibility for commissioning of services for adults with autism, however as yet my local authority (who have said they will call me back 3 times but havent, its been a week now) have yet to provide me with the name of the 'named' commissioner/manager. I have also read that the local authority should have a section or team specifically for those with autistic spectrum conditions but mine doesn't.

I have also wrote to my MP and 6 local councillors but had no reply - and now the link on that page doesn't work - which is the information I am trying to find. It seems nobody wants to divulge this information, why do I get the feeling people are trying to brush this all under the carpet. Can you give me the URL to the page I am looking for or clarify any of the above thanks.

(EDIT) Just this minute received a letter from the House of Commons from my MP who says.

"I am asking the relevant Minister for clarification of the law, and will write to you again when I have a response"

Hello Paull and autismtwo,

This is the very first live chat we've held and we're definitely looking to build on this with more live Q&A discussions in future. At this point, we will ask community members and other supporters of the NAS what topics they would like to cover. We are focusing on transition this month as we have recently produced new information about the transition from school to adult life and we receive a large number of questions on this on social media.

Holding live chats online means this is an event for people across the UK and holding two sessions means hopefully everyone can attend. 

I'm sorry to read your views about this session but hopefully, if this proves to be successful, we can hold more sessions covering a wide range of topics in future.

Best wishes,
Mike, NAS 

the reason, like everything else in this country, it is a country club circle, those outside the castle does it really matter, autism is just the commodity, they just throw them some bread out the window after the feast inside the privy... They can keep the little spheres ! If you look at the donors, foundations, trusts,, it is a LONDON gang and friends network,, some call it the crown, I call it corruption network.

the only reason they are interested in autism is because it has androgynous genetic line high male and high female, so the ruling eygptians are now getting excited, the return of  the cone of \/ (A)alpha light.

Would it not be better to a highlight the current activities and achievements and future issues that the NAS are working on, on behalf of the members of the NAS, than look you can talk to us who should have a directline of assistance anyway.

Its great that you are having live chat sessions but why only on your chosen topic, I don't want to put a downer on it but this post has been here all day and nobody has posted a question yet on 'transition'. If doesn't take a genius to work out that if you look at the most passionate forum postings you will see what people really want to talk about.