Adult autism advocacy in the UK: a policy review

The need for advocacy for autistic adults is emphasised in many government policy and good practice guidelines. The purpose of this paper is to investigate legislation and policy relevant to advocacy for autistic adults in England and explore whether this translates into practice. It also seeks to clarify which policies can be enforced under current legislation and highlight the gaps in legislative power to ensure implementation of good practice.

This paper aims to define what is meant by autism advocacy. Relevant legislation, including human rights, disability and autism-specific guidelines, are discussed in respect to autistic adults in England.

Implementation of autism advocacy policy appears to vary greatly according to local and individual resources.

Autistic adults, and services that support them, may be unaware of the policies and guidelines relevant to advocacy, they may also be confused by the plethora of different guidelines or unsure how to implement these. Further research is needed to review obstacles to the practical application of autism advocacy policy.