Autism Act 2009 Committee to quiz academics
Friday 21 March 2025
On Monday 24 March the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Committee will be hearing evidence from two panels of academics as part of its inquiry into the Act.
Giving evidence at 14:45 will be:
- Professor Bryony Beresford, Co-Director of the Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of York
- Professor Jonathan Green, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Manchester
- Professor Will Mandy, Professor of Neurological Conditions, University College London
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- What are the main purposes of autism assessment and diagnosis, for both adults and children?
- Since the Autism Act 2009 was passed, what are the main trends in the identification, diagnosis and support of autistic people?
- How effective are autism assessment and support pathways?
- Following autism assessment, how effectively do the NHS and public services support people who have received an autism diagnosis, and people who have not?
Giving evidence at 15:50 will be:
- Dr Conor Davidson, Autism Champion, Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Professor Mark Mon-Williams, Chair in Cognitive Psychology, University of Leeds
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- Since the Autism Act 2009 was passed, how have the Government, the NHS and public services responded to changes in demand for autism assessment and support?
- What are the main barriers to effective and timely autism assessment and support?
- What are the main inequalities in access to identification, diagnosis and support for autistic people?
- How effectively do the NHS and public services support people with an autism diagnosis throughout their lifetimes, including at key milestones and transitions between life stages?
The sessions can be followed live on parliamentlive.tv from 14:45 on Monday 24 March 2025.