« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Background
The same as you?1 review of services for people with learning disabilities was the first policy document to address the needs of people with autism spectrum disorder in Scotland. For the purposes of that review, learning disability was defined so as to include people with autism spectrum disorder, whether or not they also have a degree of learning disability. Whilst there have been positive service developments for people with autism spectrum disorder since then, there is still a lack of clear ownership for service development across health and social care to meet the needs of this group.
In 2002, the Public Health Institute of Scotland ( PHIS) published the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report 2, which set out priorities for multi-agency service planning and delivery. The Scottish Government subsequently set up a national autism spectrum disorder Reference Group to inform a programme of work to support and encourage the development of good practice. Progress with the PHIS recommendations was reported in a 2006 Scottish Executive Report on Implementation 3. As part of its work, the Group sought to build on a number of positive developments and focused on action to put policy into practice. This guidance has been developed for that purpose.
More recently, a national clinical guideline on assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions for children and young people with autism spectrum disorder has been published by the SIGN Council ( http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign98.pdf). Whilst it relates to the needs of children and young people up to 18 years of age, those with a responsibility for providing services for people with autism spectrum disorder of all ages may find it helpful in developing local strategies.
In recognition of the role that services wider than health and social care have in the wellbeing and inclusion of this population, Annex H sets out actions that other areas of the local authority can take forward. These have been included as stand alone pages that can be distributed to relevant areas to inform their own service developments.
« Previous | Contents | Next »