| answer text |
<p>The department regularly meets with a range of Special Education Needs and Disabilities
(SEND) and autism organisations on a wide range of education policy issues that impact
on autistic children and young people, including preparation for adulthood and employment.</p><p>Improving
joined-up support is central to our proposed SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) reforms
and the cross-government Autism strategy, which recognises the progress made as well
as the challenges that remain for reducing inequalities for autistic people of all
ages, including access to and experiences of employment.</p><p>More information on
the SEND and AP reforms, and the cross-government Autism strategy, can be found here:
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-and-alternative-provision-improvement-plan"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-and-alternative-provision-improvement-plan</a>,
and: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026/the-national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026/the-national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026</a>.</p><p>The
department and the Department of Health and Social Care have established a national
Executive Group to monitor the timely delivery of actions for the Autism strategy,
which reports directly into myself and my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Care,
at a bi-annual accountability meeting. This group includes SEND and autism organisation
representatives, who feedback their reflections and experiences to the Ministers.
The group most recently met on 20 June 2023.</p><p>Additionally, in April 2023 the
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced a review, led by Sir Robert Buckland
MP and supported by the charity Autistica, that will explore how employers recruit,
retain, and develop autistic people. The department is working closely with DWP on
this, prioritising the engagement of schools, colleges and voluntary organisations.</p>
|
|
