Gathering relevant data

Results from research into the prevalence of adults with autism in England, will be made available to local commissioners to help with planning and purchasing of services.

The study has been commissioned by DH and is being led by researchers at the University of Leicester. Final results are due later this year.

Under the national autism strategy commissioners are required to gather information about the:

• number of adults known to have autism in their area
• range of need for support to live independently
• age profile of people with autism.

Local authorities and the NHS are expected to collect this information as part of their existing duties under disability and equalities legislation.

For effective implementation of the autism strategy, service commissioners will also find it useful to know the numbers of adults with autism in their area who are:

• in employment
• likely to need support to find work
• placed in their area and funded by other local authorities
• placed out of their own area
• in hospital or living in other NHS funded accommodation
• resettled from long stays in hospital or NHS residential campuses, to a community set up
• living at home on their own, or with family members, and not receiving health or social care services
• living with older family carers.

Results from the first phase of the study into the prevalence of adult autism, show not a single person identified with autism or Asperger’s syndrome during a community survey in England, knew they had the condition.

The research has also revealed autism is more common in males, as well as people living in social housing, and individuals without higher educational qualifications.

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