What is Autism? What is social inclusion? The European perspective Scottish statistics Social policies and legislation The individual s perspective

Transcription

1

2

3 What is Autism? What is social inclusion? The European perspective Scottish statistics Social policies and legislation The individual s perspective Relevance to occupational therapy Conclusion

4 AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) A lifelong developmental disorder Affects the way a person relates to the world around them Difficulties with communication, social & emotional understanding, and flexible thinking The Triad of Impairments Wing & Gould (1979)

5 Ensuring the marginalised have greater participation in decision making which affects their lives, allowing them to improve their living standards and overall well being. Combat Poverty Agency (2009) Social Inclusion is used to refer to the goal of bringing about an inclusive society, which is one in which all individuals are valued and have important roles to play. O Brien & Lyle O Brien (2006)

6 European Charter for People with Autism The right of people with autism to live independent and full lives to the limit of their potential. The right of people with autism to accessible and suitable housing The right of people with autism to meaningful employment and vocational training without discrimination or stereotype; training and employment should have regard to the ability and choice of the individual. Sheffield Hallam University (1992)

7 About 50,000 people in Scotland are believed to have ASD More than half of adults with autism say they receive no help on leaving on leaving school Less than 30% live independently and depend on family for support NHS Organisations and Local Authorities lack robust data on Adults with ASD lack of planning of services Source :NAO Supporting People with Autism through Adulthood (June 2009) More than 80% of adults with higher functioning forms of autism are unemployed (Richards 2009)

8 Social Work Scotland Act 1968 National health Service Community Care Act 1990 Adult Support and Protection Act 2007 BUT no legislation specifically relating to people with ASD. Autism(Scotland) Bill introduced to Scottish Parliament May 2010

9 Adults with autism struggling to be recognised Difficulties applying for benefits Difficulties with job interviews Potential benefits for employers Transitional Issues National Autistic Society I Exist campaign

10 ...It is through doing that humans become what they have the capacity to be. (Archer 1998) Occupational dysfunction can result from bodily disorder or mental disease, but as long as we are constrained by these categories we fail to see and work towards alleviating occupational dysfunction from social, political and ecological causes that are reaching epidemic proportions all over the world. (Wilcock 1999)

11 Dialogue : Reflexive Practice Ethnographic Research Educate on the Power Of Occupation Engage With The Community

12 When accessible societies and communities provide for the needs of all persons equally, including those with disabilities, the benefit goes well beyond the individual members, and actively contributes to the success of society as a whole Opening address by Mr Ibrahim Salama, 2 2 Feb 2010, Palais des Nations

13 Archer, C Towards an occupational understanding of apraxia. Unpublished Masters thesis. Adelaide: University of South Australia. O Brien, J and Lyle O Brien, C Implementing person-centred planning: voices of experience. Toronto: Inclusion Press. Richards, J A labour process analysis of the exclusion of adults with Asperger Syndrome from the workplace. Paper presented at 27 th International Labour Process Conference. Edinburgh, April 6-8. Salama, I Opening address at the U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. February 22. Geneva: Palais des Nations. Wilcock, A. A Reflections on doing, being and becoming. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 46, pp Wing, L. and Gould, J Severe impairments of social interaction and associated abnormalities in children: epidemiology and classification. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9 (1) pp

14 Combat Poverty Agency National Audit Office National Autistic Society Sheffield Hallam University