Transition to adulthood can be particularly difficult for young people with autism. As a result of their disability,

many find change difficult to cope with and there is frequently a lack of understanding of their autism and a

dearth of provision to meet their needs.

This report outlines the key findings and recommendations of the Inquiry. Over 220 stakeholders, including

people with autism, parents and professionals, submitted evidence to the Inquiry. Some had experienced

good transitions from school to adulthood but, for the majority of young people, the transition had been less

than ideal.

Key findings – the experience of young people and their families

Many young people with autism often find that planning for their futures does not happen.

Frequently, decisions about a young person’s next placement are made only when they are approaching the

end of their schooling or, worse still, after they have left school. In the vast majority of cases where transition

planning is taking place, it is happening without the involvement of adult social services. Contributors

stressed how vital it is to address this. A recurrent theme was the mental health problems which developed,

in part, as a result of these failures.

For more able young people with autism, there is often insufficient understanding about the level of support

they will require in adult life. Yet, for others, expectations may be too low meaning poor outcomes become

a self-fulfilling prophecy. Transition planning must explore all areas where support may be needed to ensure

young people with autism can reach their full potential in adulthood, including employment, independent

living skills, relationship counselling, and leisure activities.

Despite clear expectations from central government, it is clear from the evidence that there is a real lack of

effective inter-agency working at local level. Many contributors spoke about the nightmare of a process in

which many agencies were involved but no agency was taking responsibility. They argued that one person

should be identified to act as the point of contact for the young person and their family and the liaison for all

other agencies involved throughout the transition process.

Another strong theme was the need for further training in autism for professionals involved in transition. This

would give them an understanding of autism, what it means for a young person, and how it may impact on

their experience of the transition process, as well as their need for support, independent living skills, social

and friendship skills, and workplace culture.

Young people and their parents must be fully aware of the options available to them, yet this is not always

the case. Services must have sufficient resources and understanding of autism to implement effective

strategies to allow young people the opportunity to contribute to their transition planning in an informed way.

Many also identified a need for independent advocacy, to support young people’s involvement in their own

transition planning.

There was a plea that transition should be about the needs of the young person first and funding second,

although within the context of a realistic understanding of funding levels. Many pointed out that varying

criteria for adult services can lead to some young people being excluded from services.

Conclusion

There have been a number of positive developments in the field of transition, such as the Transition

Support Programme, and there are pockets of good practice. Yet this Inquiry has shown that, for

many young people with autism, transition is not working. Poor transition creates a chasm between

the aspirations of young people with autism and the reality experienced by many adults on the autism

spectrum, with serious repercussions for the individual, their families, and for public expenditure. This

reports seeks recognition of the need to address this.

What needs to change?

All transition plans should be person-centred and include an assessment of the young person’s social skills and identify training needs in this area.

Connexions should monitor outcomes for all young people with autism and support all young people with autism up to the age of 24.

Local authorities should ensure that all young people with autism who require a transition plan are allocated a transition key worker trained in autism to oversee the process and ensure that the views of the young person and their family are at the centre.

Tel: 020 7923 5722 Email: appga@nas.org.uk Website: www.autism.org.uk/appga