Draft All-Age Integrated Autism Strategy 2025 to 2030 (HTML) National context

Autism is a developmental disability that affects how people interact and communicate with the world. It is a spectrum condition that affects people in many ways.

Autistic people take in information in different ways and process it in different ways. This leads to different behaviour in how they socially interact and communicate, for example they may exhibit repetitive and restrictive behaviours and tendencies. Autistic people can be hyper or under-sensitive to certain senses. They can become highly focused on specific hobbies or interests.

The Autism Act 2009 introduced a requirement for local authorities to have an adult autism strategy. This has since been broadened to include children. The National Strategy for Autistic Children, Young People and Adults 2021 to 2026 recognises and focuses on autistic children and young people as well as adults.

Autism is not a learning disability however it is estimated nationally that 1 in 3 people diagnosed with autism may also have a learning disability. This varies between children and adults as it has been estimated that this is much lower in children.1 Co-occurring conditions can include dyslexia, dyspraxia, epilepsy, depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Autistic people are more likely to develop a wide range of conditions including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, gastro-intestinal disorders and autoimmune conditions. Sleep difficulties and mental health conditions have a high prevalence within the autistic community. Suicide rates are exceptionally high.2 However, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), autistic people have higher rates of unmet health-care needs compared with the general population.3  

As well as the Autism Act 2009 there are a number of other laws that place a statutory duty on local authorities and the NHS to provide support for autistic people. 

These include:

Autism health and social care

The NHS Long Term Plan v1.2 (2019) includes objectives to improving access to autism support, a clear diagnosis pathway and subsequent referrals, and improving autistic people’s physical and mental health.

Under the Care Act 2014 and the Children and Families Act 2014, local authorities have statutory duties relating to the provision of children and adult social care services for those with autism and learning disabilities.

Local authorities have a duty to identify local people’s needs in their area and commission services to support children and young people with SEND.

The National Strategy for Autistic Children, Young People and Adults 2021 to 2026

The National Autism Strategy 2021 to 2026 focuses on 6 key areas that will have a significant impact on the lives of autistic people:

  • improving understanding and acceptance of autism within society
  • improving autistic children and young people’s access to education and supporting positive transitions into adulthood
  • supporting more autistic people into employment
  • tackling health and care inequalities for autistic people
  • building the right support in the community and supporting people in inpatient care
  • improving support within the criminal and youth justice systems

The government has identified there is a need to improve public perception and understanding of autistic people especially the different behaviours of autistic women and girls. Autistic people should feel included, accepted and valued within their communities. Autistic women and girls are far more likely to mask their symptoms.4

About 1.8% of schoolchildren in England are autistic, and the prevalence is highest among Black children, at about 2.1%.5

According to The Office for National Statistics, 30.6% of disabled people with autism as a main or secondary health condition were in employment in 2022 to 2023, compared with 53.9% for all disabled people and 81.9% of non-disabled people.

Research suggests that because autism is often viewed as a paediatric condition consequently prevalence may be higher than current data suggests. O’ Nions et al (2023)6 found evidence suggesting high levels of underdiagnosis in adults (20 years plus). 

They suggest:

  • 0.82% of England’s population are diagnosed as autistic
  • 2.12% of England’s population are undiagnosed autistic

Therefore, demand for services for autistic people and support from all services is likely to be higher than what our current data suggests.

From a national survey, the National Autistic Society (UK) identified that 77% of unemployed autistic people want to get into work.7 The government’s priority is to close the employment gap for disabled people by increasing the number of dedicated apprenticeship or training routes for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Whilst some progress has been made there is still a gap in health equalities. There is a need to reduce the number of autistic people and people with a learning disability being admitted into inpatient mental health services. Also to prevent people from being avoidably admitted to inpatient care and improving the provision of community mental health and crisis support, especially through primary care networks and voluntary and community organisations.8

Autistic individuals may be disproportionately represented in the criminal and youth justice systems, both as victims and as defendants. There needs to be a clearer understanding of how autistic people come into contact with the criminal and youth justice systems and what different types of support autistic people will need in court, prison and probation supervision.