Government details priorities of Think Autism project

The Department of Health has outlined the priorities of a new national scheme that will build awareness and improve the standard of services available to autism sufferers.

Coinciding with World Autism Day, the publication represents the latest update to Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives, the government's 2010 adult autism strategy. Think Autism has seen ministers from several departments devising five key areas for action.

These include increasing awareness and understanding of the condition, developing clearer pathways for diagnosis, improving access to services and support, helping adults with autism into work and enabling local partners to develop relevant services.

It follows an extensive public listening exercise, with efforts to be supported by funding from several sources.

Care and support minister Norman Lamb said: "People with autism rightly want to feel safe and accepted in their local community. They also want to be heard. There is a deep desire to connect with others and to find local autism support groups."

In the UK, it is estimated that about one in every 100 people has an autistic spectrum disorder, such as Asperger syndrome.