The need to improve autism services in lower-resource settings

The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism by Catherine Lord and colleagues proposes an evidence-based, stepped-care, and personalised approach for intervention and assessment in autism, involving multiple providers, with referral for the necessary support and services as the need arises. 1 Lord C Charman T Havdahl A et al. The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism. Lancet. 2021; (published online Dec 6.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01541-5 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar This approach recognises the differing needs and contexts of individual autistic children, adolescents, adults, and their families over time. The Commission advocates for governments and existing health-care systems to commit to the development of infrastructure for the provision of autism services that meet the needs of autistic people and their families across the lifespan, while at the same time ensuring equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion. Implementation of the Commission's recommendations will improve the care of autistic people and their families. But what barriers need to be overcome to advance this agenda in lower-resource settings? A way forward to improve the lives of autistic peopleAutism is estimated to affect at least 78 million people worldwide.1 Yet access to health-care services, education, and social care is inadequate for many autistic individuals, and families usually have to assume the role of primary caregiver. Meeting the varied and complex needs of autistic children, adolescents, and adults can be challenging for families and carers. The situation is especially difficult in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where most autistic people live but where the fewest support services exist. Full-Text PDF The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autismAffecting about 78 million people worldwide, autism is a condition of global importance because of its prevalence and the degree to which it can affect individuals and families. Autism awareness has grown monumentally in the past 20 years, yet most striking is that much more could be done to improve life outcomes for the highly heterogeneous group of people with autism. Such change will depend on investments in science focused on practical clinical issues, and on social and service systems that acknowledge the potential for change and growth as well as the varied, complex needs of the autistic individuals and their families whose lives could be changed with such an effort. Full-Text PDF