AUTISM sufferers are being “cast adrift” when they become adults because of a lack of knowledge and awareness among health and social care staff, MPs said today.
In a strongly-worded indictment of present provision, the Commons public accounts committee said too many went unaided unless they developed more serious problems.
And it demanded action to get more people with autism into work, following research which found only 15% were in full-time work despite having valuable skills.
They launched an investigation after the National Audit Office found half the estimated 400,000 adults in England with autism may be falling through the gaps.
In the report, the MPs said local bodies lacked “sufficient awareness of the number and needs of people with autism in their area” meaning they could not plan services properly.
