Autistic young people’s experiences of transitioning to adulthood following the Children and Families Act 2014

Laura Crane, Jade Davies, Anne Fritz, Sarah O’Brien, Alison Worsley and Anna Remington (2021)

The paper voices the experiences of 80 autistic young people aged 16-25 years. Findings were mixed, pointing out that the type of schooling plays a significant role in the access to appropriate support. Nevertheless, the importance of parental advocacy and key ‘champions’ like understanding teachers was unanimously acknowledged.

Alongside two further studies, what becomes overwhelmingly clear is the chasm between policy and lived experiences. While the Children and Families Act aimed to offer a radically different system for children and young people with SEND, stakeholders feel much more needs to be done.

The transition to adulthood for autistic young people with additional learning needs: the views and experiences of education professionals in special schools

This paper gauges the insights of staff in special schools. The findings highlight that time constraints and a lack of …

‘I can’t say that anything has changed’: parents of autistic young people (16–25 years) discuss the impact of the Children and Families Act in England and Wales

Despite hopes of better support systems and outcomes, the consensus was that little had changed. Parents noted limited support as …

It is essential that future policies put the experiences and needs of key stakeholders (especially autistic individuals) at the forefront.