Issue - meetings

To inform the Board of new duties in relation to people with autism and aspergers and how localities can respond.

Maria Cattelona, Commissioning Officer (Disabilities) at Wiltshire Council, introduced the item which sought to inform the meeting about new responsibilities to people with Autism, and to raise awareness of the condition, and what can be done to support autistic people and their families.

Maria explained that Autism was not a learning disability or a mental health condition, but rather a condition which caused difficulty with social communication, social imagination, and social interaction. An estimated 4,500 people in Wiltshire had autism, or which around 415 lived in Salisbury.  However, only 78 of these people in the Salisbury area were known to Wiltshire Council.  It was proven that people with Autism were more likely to develop mental health problems, fail to receive the right support, and struggle to find a paid job.

Jeremy Bugden from South Wilts Mencap introduced a number of people whose lives were directly affected by Autism or Aspergers, and who then shared their experiences.  They spoke about the difficulties the condition presented, the services which were already in place, and what type of things could be done to help provide more support for autistic people and their families, including:

·         Lengthy delays and difficulties in getting the condition diagnosed, which had a knock on effect on getting the right support.

·         Difficulties in getting social/supported housing for autistic people.

·         Difficulties in the workplace, although it was noted that some employers were very helpful in supporting autistic employees.

·         Some shops and venues gave their staff training to identify and deal with autistic customers, for example the Cinema put on special showings for people with autism.   It was hoped that this could be promoted and acknowledged to encourage a wider uptake.

The Chairman thanked Maria and the group for attending and for sharing their experiences, and it was hoped that some actions would come out of the discussion.