The Scottish Strategy for Autism - Menu of Interventions

Introduction

This paper was drawn up by a multi agency group including parents and carers and aims to provide a guide to interventions and supports required by people on the autism spectrum across the lifespan and ability range. These are to meet the Scottish Autism Strategy recommendations 10 and 11:

RECOMMENDATION 10
It is recommended that agencies and services develop a menu of interventions including advice, therapeutic interventions and counselling for children, young people and adults with an ASD, that are appropriate and flexible to individual need. This menu should identify advice and support that is immediately available, and set out the referral and assessment process for all other services and interventions.

RECOMMENDATION 11
It is recommended that consideration is given to the specific supports needed for the more able individuals with ASD.

In this document we will outline the background and rationale for the development of the menu of interventions drawn up to meet recommendations 10 and 11 of the Scottish Autism Strategy, list broad outcomes, restate requirements of good ASD care provision, discuss potential measurement of outcomes and provide an overview of interventions and supports.

The language used in this document is as used in the Scottish ASD strategy:

"It is important to explain the choice of language and terminology used in the document because the complex nature of the autism spectrum gives rise to a range of personal and professional perspectives. Although this means that it is not easy to find a common language that reflects the views of the various groups, what we have tried to do is reflect the diversity of the community in a positive way. More generally, we recognise that there is a need to be sensitive about the use of words like "disorder" or "impairment". These are clinical terms that are understood in those settings and included in sections of that nature. However, we know that many individuals on the autism spectrum do not accept those terms, preferring to stress that they have a different way of being in, perceiving and engaging with the world and those with whom they share it. At the same time, some individuals on the spectrum face significant challenges in their daily living and are in need of high levels of support specifically tailored to their needs."