Young people with autism 'need legal right to educational support'
Janaki Mahadevan
Friday, October 14, 2011
Young disabled people must be given the legal right to educational support up to the age of 25 if they are to achieve independence later in life, a charity has warned.
In its latest report, Ambitious About Autism claimed that without such protection, many young disabled people will be unable to gain the skills needed for their future and will become a subsequent financial burden to adult social services.
An online survey of 196 staff in post-16 education and interviews with 51 professionals, 20 learners and 18 parents of young people with autism, revealed a significant gap in further education provision for young people with autism.
Parents told the researchers that it is not generally their choice to keep young people with autism at home instead of in formal learning, describing a lack of alternative options.
Young people said they wanted to be supported to learn social and communication skills, as well as practical vocational skills that could lead to employment.
Journalist and author Charlotte Moore, who has two sons with autism, said: "A legal right to educational support up to the age of 25, as advocated by Ambitious About Autism, would be a huge advance in autistic wellbeing. Of course, establishing colleges for young adults with autism will be expensive. But failing to establish them is a false economy.
"The annual cost of supporting people with autism in the UK is estimated at a staggering £27.5bn. This cost is the result of the very high level of dependency among autistic adults. Every small step away from dependency reduces this bill. Tailor-made education continuing into the mid-20s, building on the gains already made at school, is the obvious way to minimise such dependency."
Ambitious About Autism is now calling for a funding system that gives young people and their families more information, choice and support. It also urged government to take a cross-departmental approach on outcomes for young disabled people and that the further education workforce is properly equipped to work with young people with autism.