Articles

Autism adult services: assessing readiness for independent living during transition

Readiness for independent living is often assessed too late in adult autism transitions, leading to avoidable placement breakdown and crisis escalation. This article sets out how providers assess readiness early,...

Autism adult services: evidence standards for assessment and eligibility decisions

Assessments and eligibility decisions in adult autism services fail most often because evidence is too generic, poorly linked to functional impact, or not auditable. This article sets out practical evidence...

Autism adult services: coordinating assessment across multi-agency pathways

Adult autism assessments frequently involve multiple agencies, creating risk of delay, duplication and drift. This article sets out how providers coordinate assessment activity across health, social care and housing, with...

Autism adult services: managing disputes, appeals and complaints about eligibility

Disputes about eligibility decisions are common in adult autism services and can escalate quickly if poorly handled. This article explains how providers manage challenges, complaints and appeals lawfully and proportionately,...

Transition planning meetings in adult autism services: making them accessible and effective

Transition meetings often fail autistic adults because they are run in inaccessible ways, with unclear roles and poorly translated actions. This article sets out how to plan and run transition...

Autism adult services: how to run a lawful, accessible eligibility decision process

Eligibility decisions in adult autism services must be consistent, accessible, and legally defensible, particularly where capacity, consent and communication needs affect participation. This article sets out a practical eligibility decision...

Managing transition risk in adult autism services before it escalates

Transition periods in adult autism services carry predictable risks that can be identified and managed early. This article sets out how providers assess transition risk, put practical safeguards in place,...

Eligibility thresholds in adult autism services: making consistent, defensible decisions

Eligibility thresholds in adult autism services are a frequent source of dispute, delay and escalation. This article explains how providers can apply eligibility criteria consistently, evidence functional impact, and record...

Transition into adult autism services: a 90-day mobilisation approach

Transition into adult autism support fails when responsibility is unclear, timescales slip, and plans are not built around real-world routines. This article sets out a 90-day approach that prevents cliff-edges,...

Autism adult services: getting assessment and eligibility decisions right

Assessment and eligibility decisions shape the whole pathway into adult autism support, including speed of access, crisis risk and long-term outcomes. This article sets out how to structure proportionate assessment,...