Chair of the Assembly Cross Party Autism Group and North Wales Assembly Member, Mark Isherwood, has today called for a Welsh Government Statement on its engagement with Autistic rights and the Autistic Rights Movement.

Speaking in the Business Statement  this afternoon, Mr Isherwood referred to the fact that today is World Autism Awareness Day, within World Autism Awareness Week, encouraging people to raise awareness of Autism, and to today’s 'Going Gold for Autistic Acceptance 2019' event in the Senedd which he sponsored, at which user-led organizations joined together to promote Autistic acceptance and strengthen the Autistic Voice.

He said:

“As they say, 'nothing about Autism without Autistics. Acceptance is an Action. Don't just be aware – Act!’ And ‘if all we are going to do is simply raise awareness, we are just going to make waiting lists grow longer and longer. We need to move to understanding, acceptance, representation, inclusion and equality’. Where Autistic adults are speaking, are we listening? Therefore, I would welcome a Statement, not simply in the context of the service-led or medical discussions we have here, but in terms of that engagement with the authentic Autistic Voice and the Autistic Rights Movement on World Autism Awareness Day.”

In her response, the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans, said “on World Autism Day, I'm very happy to join you in outlining how important it is, when designing services for people with autism, to do so in a way that is co-produced. I know that you, like I, are a big fan of co-production as a way of developing services and support for people.

“We acknowledge that there is a long way to go. However, I do think that we have made some real progress, including through the £13 million investment in the Integrated Autism Service, which is currently being rolled out across Wales.”