About "I Exist"

Find out more about I Exist, the second phase of the National Autistic Society's think differently about autism campaign, by clicking on a question to expand/collapse the answer.

What is I Exist?
- I Exist is the second phase of the National Autistic Society’s think differently about autism campaign. Autism is a serious, lifelong condition. Without the right support, it can have a profound – sometimes devastating – effect on individuals and families.
  
  I Exist is the message from adults with autism. Most are isolated and ignored, unable to access the required support, and are often completely dependent on their families. I Exist seeks to change this and ensure that adults with autism have the support they need.
  
  I Exist has been informed by the largest ever UK survey of adults with autism, and also by the views of local authorities and health agencies.
Why are you launching a campaign for adults?
- Autism is a lifelong condition and children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. Our survey of adults with autism and their carers found that most are isolated and ignored. A lack of recognition that autism affects adults, a lack of understanding of people’s needs, and a lack of suitable services means that most adults are prevented from realising their true potential. I Exist aims to transform lives by campaigning for better support and services for adults with autism.
  
  Although I Exist will be our main campaign over the coming months, we continue to work hard on education and other areas. For more information about other work we are currently involved in, visit our campaigns page or contact thinkdifferently@nas.org.uk.
How does I Exist link to think differently about autism?
- I Exist is the second phase of the think differently about autism campaign. The first phase concentrated on raising general public awareness of autism. Over 7,000 of you have so far signed our petition calling on the UK government to show its commitment to raising awareness of autism by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is likely to happen by the end of 2008. The hugely successful photo exhibition also continues to tour the UK.
  
  I Exist aims to build on the awareness raised so far to call for changes in local and national government policy to improve the lives of adults with autism. Read on for more details about the campaign!
What will I Exist look to achieve?
- There are four main problems that the I Exist campaign wants to address:
  
  There are no national or local records kept of how many adults there are with autism, making it very difficult to plan for and provide, suitable services and support
  
  Adults with autism often have trouble getting the services they need. Staff assessing the support adults need are often not fully trained in autism, and some people do not qualify for any support because they do not fit into the existing categories of learning disability or mental health services
  
  Many adults with autism say that they need different kinds of support but few are actually getting the help they need. One of the greatest areas of need is social support such as befriending schemes or social groups
  
  There is a lack of recognition of the needs of adults with autism at a national level and the government is not providing enough guidance to local authorities and health services on how best to support adults with autism.
What changes is I Exist asking for?
- The I Exist campaign is asking for changes to be made in four key areas to improve the lives of adults with autism:
  
  We want national government to commit money to a study of the numbers of adults with autism in the UK, and local authorities should accurately record how many people with autism live in their area
  
  All staff who assess adults’ support needs should be fully trained in autism. There should also be clear path for adults to get the assessments and services they need, especially if they do not fit into existing learning disability or mental health services. There should also be a named person or team in charge of autism services in each local authority, as set out in government guidelines
  
  Local authorities should make sure that there are resources available to provide social support to adults with autism. They should also make sure that support staff who regularly work with people with autism have appropriate training
  
  For real change to happen, the national government needs to provide leadership to make sure policies change to improve the lives of adults with autism. We are asking the government to expand capacity, expertise and leadership on autism in the Department of Health.
How can I make a difference?
- We need everyone to join us in our campaign and help improve the lives of adults with autism. Your sustained support is vital to ensuring our success. By taking part in our campaign, you will help transform the lives of the many adults with autism who are isolated and ignored.
  
  It is easy to get involved, whether you just have a few minutes or more time to spare to join our vital campaign. We will have a wide range of actions for you to get involved in throughout the campaign. Go to our take action page to see how you can make a difference today!