The National Autistic Society (NAS) is inviting local adults on the autism spectrum, their families and carers to a free information day, focusing on the Government reforms of adult social care earlier this year. It will take place in Northampton on Monday 2 November 2015 from 10:30am until 2.30pm at The Doddridge Centre. 

The day aims to give local autistic adults, who rely on social care, the information they need to understand sweeping changes introduced by the new Care Act when it came into force in April.  The Act brought in new rules for councils about who qualifies for publicly funded care and support, and gives carers the same rights as those they care for. It also introduced a new right for all individuals to receive personal budgets, essentially giving them more choice about which support services they receive.

More than 1 in 100 people in the UK have autism, including an over 7,500 in Northamptonshire. It is a lifelong spectrum condition which affects how a person communicates with and relates to others, as well as how they make sense of the world. People on the autism spectrum can find it difficult to plan and make important life decisions, often struggling to do things others take for granted, such as managing money or planning for the future. Many of them will be affected by the recent reforms and, without information and advice, may struggle to navigate the new system.

The NAS’ Support Brokers aim to address these issues by informing local people about the changes and what impact they might have on their lives. The information sharing day will go through subjects including community care, the Care Act, Person-Centred Planning and Personal Health Budgets, and explain how personalisation can work for the individual and for families and carers.

Rachel Ashton, Brokerage Development Worker at the National Autistic Society, said: “Many people living with autism rely on social care support to meet their most basic of needs.

“This makes it vitally important that people with autism know how their lives might be affected by changes to adult social care, and what they might have to do to apply for and maintain the support that they need.

“Personalisation of care has the potential to benefit families with autism, as long as they have the right information and tools to adapt their care to their needs. Our Support Brokers will be at The Doddridge Centre on 2 November to provide this support, and we encourage anyone who is looking for support, or who is just curious, to come along.

“With the right support, people with autism can live the life they choose. Our information and sharing day aims to help individuals and families understand how they can access that support.”

To book a place, please contact Rachel Ashton on 07442 498 012 or at Rachel.Ashton@nas.org.uk 

For more information about Brokerage visit: www.autism.org.uk/brokerage