Page Last updated 09-04-2009
The major knowledge in relation to ASD is the lack of accurate data about its prevalence. At all levels, statistics about the prevalence of ASD are limited; and this is particularly the case for adults with ASD. Loynes (2001) noted that there are no accurate, national figures about the prevalence of ASD in general, and despite some progress in relation to the child ASD population since then, there has been no robust study of the number of adults with ASD (Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology, 2008) . However, a government funded study to calculate the number of adults with ASD in England is currently being undertaken .
The development and delivery of services for those with autism is complicated due to the lack of sophisticated understanding of discrete needs necessary to deliver appropriate services for particular groups with particular sets of symptoms on the autism spectrum, and move beyond a “one size fits all” approach .
Literature focused on services for those with ASD, notes that a key problem is that those in need do not always have access to the services they require because they fall between the providers of mental health and learning disability provision.