The Joint Children's and Adults' Autism Strategy for Herefordshire 2014-2017 is available as a pdf in our Resources section. According to the National Autistic Society, approximately 1% of all children in the UK are on the autistic spectrum (which includes Asperger's Syndrome). A 2012 study of people living in England suggested that between 1.1% and 1.2% of adults are on the autistic spectrum: 2% of all men and 0.3% of all women.

The autism strategy for Herefordshire applies to the following groups:

• children and young people on the autistic spectrum up to the age of 18
• adults on the autistic spectrum aged 18 and over
• individuals whose diagnosis comes with or without learning disability or epilepsy
• individuals whose diagnosis comes with or without a physical disability
• individuals whose diagnosis comes with or without a mental health condition

Written in response to national policy documents, the strategy for Herefordshire endorses the National Autism Strategy's vision 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 make the most of their talents."