Speaking in the Assembly Debate on the Petitions Committee report on ‘Disabled People's Access to Public Transport’, I expressed disappointment that much of the response by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates AM, amounted to 'steady as we go'. As I said “If people are going to really develop disability awareness, they must get that training from the experts, and the only experts in this area are disabled people themselves”, adding that despite well-meaning legislation, “we hear horror stories like wheelchair users still being denied access to the coastal path in Flintshire”.
I also called for a Welsh Government Statement on autism assessment delays across Wales, after reports that children in parts of Wales were waiting, on average, two years despite the Welsh Government's target of six months. I also quoted a number of Flintshire Mums who had approached me after their children were denied assessment.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Finance after a leaked report suggested that the UK economy would grow more slowly than if it stayed in the European Union, I stressed that the report was incomplete and partial, and stated that “almost every single forecast of the economic impact of Brexit has been wrong”.
Questioning the Education Secretary, I highlighted Hafan Cymru’s Healthy Relationships campaign and their Spectrum Project to educate pupils and train teachers in schools about healthy relationships.
Questioning the First Minister about homelessness, I congratulated the young people who created the first ‘Youth Shed’ in Denbigh, supporting young people and preparing them for independent living, and called on him to support their vision to give every town in Wales a Youth Shed.
I attended a meeting with Wrexham Glyndwr University’s Vice Chancellor and the Health Secretary to explore proposals for student nurse placements from Glyndwr University’s non-commissioned nursing programme at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
It was good to see the Director of North Wales’ ‘Haven of Light’ at the ‘Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking’ Awareness raising event in the Assembly.
Independent Living for disabled people with high care and support needs is at risk across Wales as Welsh Government plans to close the Welsh Independent Living Grant (WILG) and transfer all responsibility to local authorities, and I attended Friday’s Reception for the exhibition at Theatr Clwyd in support of the ‘Save WILG’ campaign, led by Wrexham’s Nathan Lee Davies.
It was good to meet residents at ‘the Old Palace’ in St Asaph, run by Community Housing Gwynedd, and to visit ‘MHC - Mental Health Care’ in Llangwyfan to discuss their residential autism services.
I also enjoyed attending Heat 3 of Leonard Cheshire Disability’s ‘Strictly Cymru’ dance competition in Colwyn Bay for disabled individuals of all abilities, young and old.
If you need my help, please email mark.isherwood@assembly.wales or ring 0300 200 7217.