24 October 2011
On Monday 17 October 2011 in Westminster, Waveney MP Peter Aldous attended the launch of Ambitious about Autism’s new campaign, Finished at School: Where next for young people with autism? At the event in Westminster, Aldous signed the campaign pledge, which calls for:

  • A clear legal right to educational support up to the age of 25 for young disabled people

  • A funding system that gives young people and families more information, choice and support

  • A cross-government focus on outcomes and destinations for disabled young people

  • A further education workforce with the skills to support young people with autism to achieve their ambitions


Research by the charity has found that tens of thousands of young people with autism are being denied access to education beyond school. There are an estimated 66,000 young people with autism aged 16-25 in England and yet the latest data shows that only around 15,000 (23%) access further education.

Parents interviewed as part of the research talk of a facing a ‘black hole’ when their child approaches 16 due to the ‘virtually non-existent’ options available to them. They describe the situation as being the ‘latest in a long line of battles to get the right education for their child’.

While there are some examples of excellent education provision for young people with autism, these are few and far between. In many cases, the lack of provision forces parents to send their child to one of very few specialist colleges far from home, or into a residential care home with people three times their age.

Mr Aldous said:

‘I am delighted to be the Ambitious about Autism’s ‘Finished at School’ campaign. With the right opportunities and support, young people with autism can continue to learn and contribute to their communities. I urge all colleges in the area to open their doors to young people with autism and support them to access their services.’

Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, comments:
‘Imagine being written off at the age of 16 and told that you will spend the rest of your life in residential care. Young people with autism are being denied the right not only to an education but also to work, live more independently and contribute to society. It is no wonder that 85% of adults with autism are not in full-time employment.’

Robert Buckland MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism, adds:
‘The chronic lack of college places means that young people with autism are losing the many skills they have gained at school. £27.5 billion a year is spent on supporting people with autism - a figure that could be cut substantially if we invested more in further education and supported young people with autism to develop the skills they need to lead more independent lives.

I urge everyone to sign up to the ‘Finished at School’ campaign. We will all benefit from the contribution young people with autism can make if we break down the barriers they currently face and enable them to achieve their ambitions.’