Tomorrow's big problem: The growing recognition of a need for autism services

Moving to a new home is a major step for anyone. People with autistic spectrum disorders face many difficulties with this transition, but help and information are limited. The Shirley Foundation funded a project by Housing Options, an advisory service for learning disability, to promote the development of housing and support options for people with autism. It looked at existing services, what people say is needed and how to improve them. The challenge for the next five years appeared to be a better understanding of the range of existing need and provision, improvement in the choice available, information and help for people and their families seeking to plan for the future and strategies for services (in the light of Valuing People) to include autism. This article outlines the finding of a recent report, Tomorrow's Big Problem, and in particular looks at information available on the need for services.