In Bath and North East Somerset, the adult autism strategy is overseen by a multi-agency ‘Autism Strategy Group’. The two lead commissioners for mental health and learning disabilities will jointly ensure direct accountability to the B&NES Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board. To promote alignment across localities we have also ensured that our strategy is closely aligned to that of Wiltshire Council and NHS Services and would like to thank them for their work in structuring this strategy for adoption in B&NES.
All work in B&NES will be built upon the Government’s Autism Act (2009) and the national strategy “Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives” (March 2010). In practice this means that we will strive within local resources to ensure that the national vision is realised locally: “All adults with autism are able to live fulfilling and rewarding lives within a society that accepts and understands them. They can get a diagnosis and access the support if they need it, and they can depend on mainstream public services to treat them fairly as individuals, helping them make the most of their talents.”