A QUEEN'S University Belfast academic is urging all government departments to provide clear guidance on the provision of internationally endorsed, evidence-based support services for people with autism.Professor Karola Dillenburger from Queen's School of Education today launched findings from one of the first Northern Ireland-wide surveys of public awareness, attitudes and knowledge of autism.The findings from the 2012 Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) Survey, show that there is a relatively high level of awareness of autism among the public.At the same time, there is also confusion among NILT respondents about who is responsible for the delivery of support and services to people with autism.Prof Dillenburger is urging the Department of Health to consider the findings when developing the new cross-departmental Autism Strategy.The NILT Survey is an annual survey conducted by ARK at Queen's University and the University of Ulster. It records public attitudes to a wide range of social issues.It found that 82 per cent of respondents were aware of autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger's Syndrome. Almost one in three said they knew someone with autism while just under one in five had a close relative or family member with autism.The survey asked whether health and education services, both or neither should play a role in helping individuals with autism.Responses were equally distributed between those who thought autism was an educational issue (26 per cent), a health issue (33 per cent), or an issue for both (28 per cent)."Autism services should be coordinated jointly by all departments, but the NILT Survey results show that there is some confusion among the public as to which departments should provide these services," Prof Dillenburger said."The Autism Act mandates the DHSSPS to take the lead in the development of the strategy but the Department of Education and all other departments are involved and have key roles to play."