Scarborough & Whitby MP Says Autism Must be a Priority for the Government

Alison Hume MP has called for autism to be a priority for the government after attending the launch of a hard-hitting report from the National Autism Society.

Ms Hume has already spoken publicly about the challenges she faced bringing up a child with autism.

]Alison attended the National Autistic Society’s A Constant Fight event, at Portcullis House on Thursday 23 January 2025, to learn more about the charity’s new report A Constant Fight: The Reality of Autistic People's Struggle for Support Across Health and Social Care, Education, Employment and Mental Health.

The report highlights how autistic people are bearing the brunt of broken systems across society and over 2,000 people wrote to their MPs to ask them to support the event.

Ms Hume said;

“The new government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and I am determined that autistic children and young people are an absolute priority.”

“My inbox is full of deeply upsetting examples of how local families are being failed day in, day out.

“It can’t be right that in 2025 only one in four autistic pupils in England feel happy at school. I also know there are thousands not in school at all because their needs aren’t being met.”

“With 204,876 people waiting for an autism assessment in England, the word broken hardly does the situation justice.”

Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said:

“We were pleased Alison Hume MP attended our A Constant Fight event in parliament and was able to hear directly from autistic people about the struggles they face in their daily lives and how urgently change is needed. “

"By listening to autistic people about the issues they are facing and finding solutions to create a society that works for all autistic people, we can improve services and support across the board.”

Alison Hume added:

“I’ve walked in the shoes of these families, and I’m determined to push for change. We’ve inherited a dire situation but autistic people should not be bearing the brunt of our broken support systems in education, employment, health and mental health.”

The full report is available on the National Autistic Society’s website: A Constant Fight: The Reality of Autistic People's Struggle for Support Across Health and Social Care, Education, Employment and Mental Health. The report is written by autistic staff at the National Autistic Society.

It emphasises that the experiences of autistic people serve as a critical test of public policy, suggesting that systems designed to work for autistic individuals are likely to benefit everyone and includes case studies provided by autistic people and their families.

Key Issues and Statistics

• Diagnosis: There is a significant backlog in autism assessments, with 204,876 people waiting in England as of September 2024. 89.4% of those have been waiting longer than the recommended 13 weeks. The number of people waiting has increased by 25% in one year. The assessment process is often described as long, bureaucratic, and stressful, with additional barriers for marginalized groups.
• Education: Only 26% of autistic pupils report feeling happy at school, and 74% of parents say their child’s school does not meet their needs. Many families wait over three years to get support for their child. There is a lack of appropriate school places for autistic students, and local authorities lack the funding to support families with Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) implementation. 98% of SEND tribunal cases are resolved in favor of parents, highlighting barriers to implementation rather than the legitimacy of the requests for support. Autistic pupils are more likely to be excluded and struggle with attendance.
• Employment: Only three in ten autistic adults are employed, the lowest rate for any disability. Many autistic people face discrimination, lack of understanding, and insufficient support in the workplace. The autism employment gap costs the UK economy approximately £14.5 billion every year.
• Mental Health: 70-80% of autistic people experience mental health problems. Services often reject referrals, and mental health support is frequently not adapted to meet the needs of autistic individuals. There has been a 122% increase since 2015 in the number of autistic people without a learning disability detained in mental health hospitals. Many autistic people experience suicidal thoughts, attempts and death by suicide.
• Health Inequalities: Autistic people are more likely to have both chronic physical and mental health conditions, yet face barriers to accessing proper healthcare, including GP appointments and specialist advice. They are more likely to leave appointments without receiving help and experience difficulties in healthcare settings due to sensory overstimulation and communication issues. Autistic people die on average six years earlier than the general population, and those with a learning disability die up to 15 years earlier.

Recommended Changes

The report calls for significant changes and investments across different sectors:

• Diagnosis:
  • Immediate ring-fenced funding for autism assessments and support with a long-term funding commitment to stabilize the national model. The National Autistic Society proposes an investment of £1.3 billion over the next 15 years to evolve the assessment process.
  • Expand the multi-disciplinary workforce for autism assessment.
  • Develop and test innovative models of identification and support.
• Education:
  • Mandatory autism training for all school staff.
  • Improved commissioning of school places to address the lack of appropriate school places for autistic students.
  • Joined-up work between schools, local authorities, and health and social care services.
  • Increased funding for mainstream schools and capital improvements.
  • Ensuring that provisions, like mental health and employment support, are tailored to meet the needs of autistic pupils.
• Employment:
  • Halve the autism employment gap by 2030 and have 55% of autistic adults working.
  • Support for employers through training, public campaigns, and sharing good practices.
  • Employers must understand autism, implement reasonable adjustments, engage with autistic jobseekers, and demonstrate autism-friendly workplaces.
• Mental Health:
  • Invest in a mental health workforce and community services that are effective for autistic people.
  • Additional funding to develop, trial, and maintain better service models.
  • Legislative reform to the Mental Health Act.
  • Improve workforce retention and consistency of staffing to build trust.
  • Ensure professionals are aware of policies designed to prevent hospitalizations, such as the Dynamic Support Register.
  • Develop treatments and therapies that benefit autistic individuals.
• Health Inequalities:
  • Ensure autistic people are fully involved and included in the NHS 10-year plan.
  • All healthcare staff must complete mandatory training and have ongoing opportunities to consolidate their knowledge.
  • Simple adjustments in healthcare settings, like quiet waiting areas and adjusted lighting.
  • Healthcare professionals should ask autistic people what adjustments would help them feel more comfortable.
  • Consult directly with autistic people to learn about healthcare barriers and implement necessary adjustments.

The report emphasises the need for a long-term, joined-up approach that involves autistic people in the development of solutions. The full report can be found at www.nas.chorus.thirdlight.com/file/24/Nh3dZkgNhyP1Os6Nhii_NhkpvuM/A Constant Fight Parliamentary Report.pdf