Autism: Rights in Reality, published last week to coincide with Autism Awareness Week, said people with autism and Asperger's syndrome 'don't fit the current ways of thinking about disability nor the eligibility used to measure the support needs of people with disabilities and their families'.
It found that more than a third of carers (36 per cent) openly admitted that they did not understand the benefits system, and almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of those who had claimed benefits encountered problems filling out the forms.
But where people were able to get some help, they had to fight for it. Of those receiving disability living allowance, 30 per cent had gone to appeal to get the right rate, rising to 45 per cent among families on low incomes.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here