We Exist campaign for a Scottish Autism Bill

On Thursday 3 November, NAS Scotland welcomed the government’s launch of its Autism Strategy, directed towards supporting Scotland’s 50,000 people with autism.

Commenting, Dr Robert Moffat, National Director of The National Autistic Society (NAS) Scotland said,

NAS welcomes news that the government is launching its Autism Strategy to support people with the condition in Scotland. Currently those expected to help people with autism, such as local authorities, health, welfare and education services often fail to do so, because they don’t recognise autism, or understand its impact. The government faces significant challenges but we look forward to this commitment bringing about meaningful outcomes for the 50,000 Scots with the condition.

At present of the 50,000 Scottish people with autism, only 7,500 are known to local authorities. The hidden cost of not meeting the needs of people with autism in Scotland currently amounts to £2.3 billion each year, according to the National Audit Office. In a recent NAS survey, 95% of respondents agreed that more local services are needed for people with autism. The survey also revealed that:

• A third of people have waited more than two years for a diagnosis of autism, and some people told NAS that they have been waiting more than ten years to get a diagnosis.
• 52% of adults with autism are financially dependent on their families
• Although many adults with the condition want to work, only 13% are in full-time employment
• Over half of adults with autism have experienced bullying or harassment since they were 18
• In the UK, 27% of children with autism have been excluded from school. Children with autism are three times more likely to have mental health problems than other children.

NAS and its supporters are looking to the government strategy to address the lack of a ‘joined up’ approach between local authorities and other key agencies, as NAS believes this is to be a key reason why many Scots with autism have been rendered ‘invisible’ by the present system, despite previous actions to address these issues.

Autism is known as the ‘invisible disability’, because those with the condition can appear to be outwardly functioning well, while often experiencing severe challenges in communication, social situations and making sense of the world around them. People with autism often have difficulty understanding facial expressions, can be very literal in their understanding of questions and misinterpret others’ intentions. It is estimated that 1 in 100 Scots have the condition and struggle to access the same educational, social and employment opportunities that others take for granted.

Scotland is the last remaining UK country to develop a consistent approach to autism. In 2009 The Autism Act was passed in Westminster. In Wales and Northern Ireland the assemblies have both developed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) strategic action plans with actions planned on 3 year cycles. NAS (Scotland) and its supporters have urged the Government to create a similarly effective approach to autism in Scotland.

The government’s renewed commitment to the 1 in 100 Scots with autism was kick started by The Autism (Scotland) Bill, brought to parliament by former MSP Hugh O’Donnell  in January 12th 2011 and supported by NAS Scotland and a coalition of autism organisations.
 
Although the bill was ultimately unsuccessful, prior to its being brought to parliament on January 12th, 2011, the government did not have an existing autism strategy in place. Cross-party recognition of the significant barriers faced by people with autism emerged during the parliamentary debate.

The Autism (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Central Scotland MSP Hugh O’Donnell aimed to ensure that funds were used effectively by placing a legal obligation on the Scottish Government to produce a strategy for autism services throughout the country.