£2 Million Announced for Autism Services in Wales

Welsh Labour’s Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, has announced a funding package of £2million to support children and adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for 2011-12.

This funding will continue to secure Wales’ place as a world leader in ASD work and will maintain the momentum initiated by the ASD Strategic Action Plan for Wales. Since the Action Plan was launched, much has been achieved in raising the awareness of this condition and in improving the lives of both children and adults with ASD.

However, the Assembly Government believes that more needs to be done and this funding will allow new and innovative projects to be established across Wales. These include:

• Develop a pre/post diagnostic service for children with ASD
  
• Develop an adult diagnostic and counselling service.
  
• Support a series of new regional projects to offer practical help to individuals and families across Wales
  
• Develop regional monitoring and support for adults with Aspergers Syndrome
  
• Set up an ASD Learning and Improvement Network and an ASD e-learning resource

Breakdown of ASD funding for 2011-12

ASD co-ordination, regional child-focussed projects and guidance on Unified Assessment Process: £1,540,000

Development of pre/post diagnosis services for children and adults: £466,000

Improvement of employment prospects of adults with ASD: £2,076,000