Autism outreach services – influencing inclusive practice?

Abstract

This paper outlines the key findings of a national survey carried out in England and Wales during 1998 as part of a larger research project. A postal questionnaire was sent to all principal educational psychologists. The survey aimed to determine the presence of autism outreach/advisory services. An outreach service can be defined as one that has staff with specialist knowledge, skills and experience in a specific area. It offers support to a number of recipients, such as pupils, their families and school-based staff. Based on a return rate of 81 questionnaires (53 per cent of LEAs surveyed), this revealed that 24 (30 per cent) of local education authorities (LEAs) had some form of structured outreach/advisory services specifically catering for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders. A further 20 (24 per cent) of returns indicated emerging or informal services were in existence. Approximately a third of the autism outreach/advisory services were based in a special school. Only a very small number operated from a mainstream school. Approximately half were based on an autonomous site. The characteristics of the services varied along a number of dimensions, but a common aim was to facilitate inclusion for a group of pupils within the autistic spectrum.