North Wales Assembly Member and Chair of the Assembly Cross Party Group on Autism, Mark Isherwood, has called on the First Minister to respond to concerns raised by a North Wales Autism charity that carers of children with autism are not receiving the support they need.
Mr Isherwood, who for years has been campaigning for improved services and support for people with autism and their families, recently raised the matter again in the Assembly Chamber, referring to the concerns highlighted by a charity which supports Autistic children and young people, and their families and carers, in North Wales.
He said:
“The Integrated Autism Service and Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan final report, commissioned by the Welsh Government, was published at the end of March. This said that, 'whilst the IAS can work with parents and carers it cannot work directly with children', with consequent reliance upon education services to provide support following diagnosis, but, quote, ‘there are continuing weaknesses in education provision for children with autism’ and ‘also concerns that this means little support for parents and carers in the home'.
“Reponses to their survey from parents and carers indicated ‘continuing gaps and weakness in post-diagnostic support, with almost half reporting they had no support after diagnosis’.
“How, therefore, do you respond to the concern raised with me by a charity supporting children of families in North Wales - Children with Autism in Families in North Wales - that carers often have to give up their careers and full-time work due to long-term caring responsibilities and family stress, with financial worries caused adding to the stress of an already very stressful family environment?”
In his response the First Minister said “The Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 that was passed on this Assembly's floor and will be implemented from September of next year, with £20 million to support preparation for it, has at its heart that idea of the child at the centre of all the decisions that are made”.
Mr. Isherwood added “The Charity told me that funding is not being focused on the most important areas and that gaps in service provision not only include Autism school training for all staff and resources at schools, but also Autism specific activities and clubs, parent support in times of crisis, respite services for families and family outreach support”.
