Autism Act 2009

Summary

What is the Autism Act?

The Autism Act 2009 was the result of two years of active campaigning, with thousands of National Autistic Society members and supporters persuading their MPs to back Cheryl Gillan MP’s Private Members Bill.

It is the only act dedicated to improving support and services for one disability.

Content

The Act did two key things:

• Put a duty on the Government to produce and regularly review an autism strategy to meet the needs of autistic adults in England. The first ever strategy for autistic people in England, Fulfilling and rewarding lives, was published in 2010 with a commitment to review this strategy three years later. The new strategy, Think Autism, was published in April 2014.
• Put a duty on the Government to produce statutory guidance for local authorities to implement the strategy locally.