Tr a n s i t i o n s
for young people with
autism and learning
disabilities
A National Picture
James Fletcher
Director ARC Scotland
Aims
• Update you on work happening nationally to
improve transitions
• Scottish Transitions Forum
• Scottish Strategy for Autism Work Group 2 (Transitions)
• Propose actions that can be taken to improve
transitions
• Encourage you to get involved to help make
them happen
What we mean by Transition
✔Ages 14 to 25 years
✔Part of growing up, not a single event
✔Is about achieving potential in all
aspects of life
✔ Includes all young people with autism
and learning disabilities
Heard it before?
“We have been having
this conversation for 30
years”
Accountability
Who is responsible for
transitions?
• Locally
• Nationally
Principles of Good
Transitions 2
• Written in consultation with members
of the Scottish Transitions Forum
• Delivers ‘good practice transitions
guidance’ called for in Scottish Strategy
for Autism
• Included in Keys to Life implementation
framework
• Widely endorsed across different
professional sectors
• Third version to be published July 2016
Principles of Good Transitions 2
1 Plans and assessments should be made in a
person centred way.
2 Support needs to be coordinated between all
Services.
3 Planning needs to start early and continue up to
age 25.
4 All young people should get the support they
need.
5 Young people, parents and carers must have
access to the information they need.
6 Families and carers need support.
7 Legislation and policy should be coordinated and
simplified.
Scottish Strategy for Autism.
Recommendation 18 (2011):
It is recommended that good practice transitions guidance
is developed
Whole life journey: by 5 years:
Access to appropriate transition planning across the
lifespan
Priorities 2015/17:
Active citizenship: People with autism are able to
participate in all aspects of society by successfully
transitioning from school into meaningful educational or
employment opportunities.
Films
Film
Anyone can be a super-hero: Scotts’ transition from
School
Anyone to
cancollege
be a super hero:
Scott's experience of Transition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_k8EI4aehQ#t=617
http://scottishtransitions.org.uk/video/anyone-can-be-asuperhero-an-experience-of-a-young-mans-transition-fromschool-to-college/
Transitions are a family concern:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2t7HgF3pw
Scottish Strategy for Autism
Work Group 2- Transitions
Digging Deeper
Consultation with over 200 young
people, carers and professionals in:
• Angus
• Argyll and Bute
• Pan-Ayrshire
• Dumfries and Galloway
• Highlands and Islands (Inverness and
Wick)
• Perth and Kinross
• Scottish Borders
• Stirling and Clackmanannshire.
Digging Deeper
Good Practice Examples
Peer
support
amongst
parents
Exceptional
staff
Transitions
teams
Local
Transitions
networks
and forums
Person
centred
planningthe ‘Big
Plan’
Work
placements
Transition
open days
One Stop
Shops
Scottish Strategy for Autism Transitions Work Group.
Films Achievements 2015/16 (summary)
✔
Organised
‘Digging
Deeper’ consultation
events from
across
Anyone
can be
a super-hero:
Scotts’ transition
Scotland
published report
School toand
college
✔
Worked with national Coordination project to deliver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_k8EI4aehQ#t=617
Autism Strategy Lead Officers Collaborative event
✔
Produced are
‘flowachart’
transitions legislation
Transitions
familyofconcern:
✔
Assisted with delivery of annual Autism Strategy National
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2t7HgF3pw
Conference themed ‘Transitions and Employment’
✔ Raised awareness of transitions in different Government
policy teams
Scottish Strategy for Autism
Transitions Work Group- Next Steps (summary)
• Establish a clearer picture of the numbers of young
people with autism who are receiving post-school
support, and the level of unmet need
• Learn from local Transitions Forums in 3 local authority
areas who are using Principles of Good Transitions to
structure joined-up planning and delivery
• Work with Autism Network Scotland to produce autismspecific supplement to Principles of Good Transitions 3
• Work with Scottish Government to review how policy and
legislation can be joined up and simplified
What can you do?
Join the Scottish Transitions
Forum
Use ‘Principles of Good
Transitions’ to guide your
practice and planning
Input to the Scottish
Strategy for Autism
Transitions Work Group
Contacts
• Scottish Transitions Forum / Principles of
Good Transitions
http://scottishtransitions.org.uk/
[email protected]
• Autism Strategy Work Group 2
http://www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk/
[email protected]
Thank you.