Education for children with autism 'inadequate'

Half of all children with autism are forced to wait more than a year before they receive appropriate educational support, a new report from the National Autistic Society (NAS) has revealed.

Additionally, 30 per cent of parents feel their child's educational placement is inadequate, while 43 per cent feel their teachers do not have enough understanding about the condition.

Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS, said it is "completely unacceptable" that so many parents still face an uphill battle to get adequate education for their autistic children.

"The government rightly recognises that action is needed, and that they need to reform a system which continues to let many children with autism down," he said.

"Our report sets out the practical, often simple, steps that the government can take to create a system that works for everyone."

In March, the NAS launched a new campaign designed to tackle the under-provision of services for people with autism in Northern Ireland.