Following the Autism Act 2009, the government published:

• Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: The strategy for adults with autism in England (2010).

This strategy set out a clear vision for transforming lives and creating positive outcomes for autistic people to ensure that:

"All adults with autism are able to live fulfilling and rewarding lives within a society that accepts and understands them. They can get a diagnosis and access support if they need it, and they can depend on mainstream public services to treat them fairly as individuals, helping them to make the most of their talents."

Think Autism was an update to the 2010 autism strategy and reaffirmed the importance of the 5 areas for action identified in the strategy aimed at improving the lives of autistic adults:

• increasing awareness and understanding of autism

• developing clear, consistent pathways for the diagnosis of autism

• improving access for adults with autism to services and support

• helping adults with autism into work

• enabling local partners to develop relevant services

'Think Autism': an update to the government adult autism strategy

A new all-age National Autism Strategy was published in July 2021.

• The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026

and its accompanying document:

• Autism strategy implementation plan: 2021 to 2022 (Annex A)

Statutory guidance

The Department of Health also published Statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the autism strategy 2015. No further statutory guidance for the new national strategy published in July 2021 has yet been issued.