Parents across the UK are forming partnerships with local councils to build pioneering supported-living homes for their severely autistic children. With growing numbers of parents increasingly unable to find suitable, safe and secure residential accommodation for their young adult children - and cash-strapped councils having to pay exorbitant costs when already expensive placements break down - the two are coming together to forge a solution. They then formed a charity, raised £250,000 and worked together with the council to create the 10-bed Linden Farm, which offers accommodation, activities and specialised care for severely autistic adults. Peter Lawrence said it was an “automatic response of social services” to send young adults out of county but it was potentially a recipe for other problems such as poor or inappropriate care. Sarah, the mother of a severely autistic young adult, recently submitted a proposal to her local council. Another parent who is also working on a proposal for their council, who asked not to be named, said: "The current situation [in my area] is unbelievably bad for profoundly autistic adults. “This is an area which is generating very significant financial pressure for both adults and children’s social care services. The growing volume of children and young people with complex needs is outstripping the ability to commission arrangements.”

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