Time to Deliver: What the House of Lords Autism Act Report Means for Your Organisation
The House of Lords has published this week a significant new report on the Autism Act 2009, providing one of the clearest signals yet of how national policy on autism is likely to evolve over the coming years. While the report is not legally binding at present, it is highly influential and is expected to guide the next phase of statutory duties and government strategy.
For organisations across all sectors, this document functions as advanced notice of the standards and expectations that are likely to become mandatory. Preparing now will place organisations in a far stronger position to meet future requirements and to ensure more equitable, accessible experiences for autistic people.
Important Statistics
Three headline statistics illustrate the scale and urgency of the situation:
1. The UK autism waiting list now represents more than 3.8 million months of cumulative waiting time — over 318,000 years.
This reflects more than 224,000 people waiting an average of 17 months or longer for an assessment.
2. Demand for autism assessment has increased twelvefold since 2019.
Referrals for suspected autism rose from 17,411 in 2019 to 224,382 in 2025.
3. Nearly 90% of people waiting for an autism assessment have already exceeded the NICE guideline of 13 weeks.
In many areas, waits extend into multiple-year ranges, representing significant unmet need.
Key Findings
The House of Lords report highlights several significant insights into the current system:
1. The assessment system is substantially overstretched
Demand has risen sharply while assessment capacity has not kept pace. The report concludes that the system is unable to meet current or future demand without major reform.
2. Support remains overly dependent on diagnosis
Although needs-led support is the stated ambition, diagnosis remains the gateway to help in most regions. This results in long periods where individuals receive no support despite clear needs.
3. Autistic people face poorer outcomes across health, education, and employment
The report draws attention to avoidable health inequalities, educational disruption, and low employment rates among autistic adults.
4. Transitions between services are a point of vulnerability
Support often falls away when children move into secondary school, or when young people enter adulthood, contributing to instability and increased risk.
5. Employers lack consistent guidance
Many organisations want to improve workplace inclusion but do not have clarity on reasonable adjustments, neuroinclusive practice, or legal expectations.
What Is Going Wrong in the Current System
1. Insufficient capacity to meet rising demand
Large increases in referrals have not been matched with equivalent investment in assessment or early support.
2. A postcode lottery of access and quality
Waiting times, referral routes, and available services differ widely across regions. Experiences are inconsistent and often inequitable.
3. Very limited support before or after diagnosis
Most services cannot offer preventative or early interventions, resulting in people waiting long periods without guidance or accommodations.
4. The education system is struggling to respond effectively
Many autistic children experience unmet needs in mainstream settings, contributing to school absence, reduced engagement, and, in some cases, children leaving the formal system entirely.
5. Barriers within healthcare and mental health services
Autistic people often struggle to access healthcare due to a lack of neuroinformed practice, communication barriers, and a shortage of trained clinicians.
6. Fragmentation across services
Health, education, social care, employment, and housing often operate in isolation, which creates gaps that autistic people are left to navigate alone.
Recommendations from the Report
The report outlines a comprehensive programme of reform intended to improve outcomes, consistency, and accountability. Key recommendations include:
1. A fully funded, cross-government autism strategy from 2026
The next strategy should include clear outcomes, public reporting, and departmental accountability.
2. Strengthened statutory guidance
This includes clear duties for NHS bodies, local authorities, and public services, alongside mechanisms for monitoring and escalation where standards are not met.
3. Mandatory autism and neuroinclusion training
The report calls for national, high-quality, practical training for all public-facing staff. This training aligns closely with the type of applied neuroinclusion programmes delivered by Welcome Brain, focused on communication, sensory environments, accessibility, and appropriate adjustments.
4. A reformed pathway of “stepped” support
Support should be available earlier, be less dependent on diagnosis, and continue flexibly throughout a person’s life.
5. Investment to reduce waiting times and improve community support
Increasing capacity for both assessment and early intervention is considered essential.
6. Clearer expectations and support for employers
Employers should receive practical guidance and stronger incentives to improve workplace accessibility and inclusive hiring.
7. A national campaign on public understanding
The report emphasises the need for improved societal understanding of autism, challenging misconceptions and building confidence.
Legal Requirements (and What Organisations Should Expect Next)
Although the recommendations are not yet legally binding, they are expected to inform the next phase of statutory guidance under the Autism Act. This means that significant changes are likely to become enforceable in the near future, particularly around:
Mandatory neuroinclusion training
Standards for accessible service design
Strengthened duties for local authorities and NHS bodies
Public reporting on outcomes
Clearer accountability processes
Improved support for transitions and early intervention
Organisations should anticipate that these areas will become part of formal compliance expectations.
Preparing now by reviewing policies, auditing accessibility, and training staff in neuroinclusive practice will make implementation far smoother once requirements become legally enforceable.
Anything Else Organisations Need to Know
1. Neuroinclusive practice is moving from “good practice” to expected practice
Across sectors, expectations are shifting toward universal accessibility and consistent adjustments, regardless of diagnosis status.
2. Rising diagnosis rates reflect increased recognition, not overdiagnosis
The report makes clear that rising figures are principally due to improved understanding and identification, not artificial inflation. Organisations should plan for ongoing increases.
3. Workforce capability is a central theme
The report emphasises that many of the challenges autistic people face arise not from individual needs but from environments, systems, and practices that can be redesigned with relatively simple adjustments.
4. Co-production will grow in importance
Future strategies and local plans will be expected to involve autistic people meaningfully in design, delivery, and evaluation.
Final Thoughts
The House of Lords report provides one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of the challenges facing autistic people in the UK, and it offers a clear roadmap for change. While the recommendations are not yet mandated, they set strong expectations that are likely to shape legislation, statutory guidance, and regulatory standards in the coming years.
Organisations that act now — by building capability, implementing neuroinclusive practices, and investing in high-quality training — will not only be well prepared for future requirements but will also create more accessible, equitable, and effective environments for the autistic people they already serve.
To get ahead of incoming government legislation, get in touch with Welcome Brain today.
