Previous meetings of the Cross-Party Autism Group

14 September 2011

It was all change for the Cross Party Autism Group (CPAG). Mark Isherwood, AM for North Wales, took over from Janet Ryder as Chair of the Group with AMs Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Plaid) and Rebecca Evans (Labour) becoming the Groups Officers.

The first CPAG of the new term was held in Llandudno. The meeting was well attended and very lively. The first presentation was by 23-year-old Tom who spoke about his life with autism. This was followed by an interesting presentation on Conwy and Denbighshire ASD assessment service evaluation by Dr Gemma Griffiths.

The meeting was rounded off by a presentation on the ASD strategy in North Wales – the local authorities' response from Michael Duke, ASD lead for Denbighshire and principal EP, and Alex Fryer, ASD lead for Conwy and senior manager in social services working with adults.

6 December 2011

A shortened CPAG due to strike action meant a curtailed agenda. Cliff Warwick from the Welsh Government gave a presentation on the proposed changes to the statementing system in Wales. Whilst the Deputy Minister for Social Services was unable to attend, she did send a report which was presented to the Group followed by comments and questions.

4 June 2009

Calls were made on 4 June, at a special meeting of the Welsh Assembly Cross-Party Autism Group (CPAG) in Llandudno, for a team of professionals to be established in north Wales to work with adults with Asperger syndrome. The meeting was addressed by members of the Liverpool Asperger Team, who help adults with diagnosis and accessing services for their condition, as well as providing training and awareness raising to other bodies on Asperger syndrome. 

Responding to these calls at the CPAG was Mary Burrows MBE, Chief Executive of the newly formed North Wales NHS Trust, who assured the audience that the formation of a similar team in north Wales would be one of her priorities. 

This echoes the pledge made on 3 June by Health Minister Edwina Hart AM to look into forming such a team, after questions were raised on the issue in the Welsh Assembly by Regional North Wales AMs Janet Ryder and Mark Isherwood. 

3 February 2009

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Edwina Hart AM MBE, made a welcome return to the group to discuss the progress of the Welsh Assembly Government task group for adults with Autism in Wales and to take questions on adult issues affecting the group. Many important issues were raised and the Minister expressed her desire to return to the group at a later date to update the group on progress.

14 January 2009

The Welsh Assembly Cross-Party Autism Group's first meeting of 2009 was visited by the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Jane Hutt AM. The Minister, welcomed by the chair Janet Ryder AM, was on hand to hear from parents, professionals and individuals affected by autism in Wales, especially on educational issues.

It is a great testament to the continual popularity and importance of the Cross-Party Group that there was barely enough space to fit everyone into the committee room. 

11 July 2008

This was a special meeting of the Cross-Party Autism Group held in north Wales. This is the first time the group has met outside of Cardiff. Around 100 people attended the meeting, which was held at Llandudno Town Hall.

Attendees heard from Su Evans, a parent of a young person with severe autism and Amanda Adshead, a woman with Asperger syndrome. In addition, Mark Isherwood AM, an officer of the group and a north Wales Assembly Member and Alwyn Rowlands from Gwynedd and Anglesey Support group and an NAS Councillor also talked to attendees about the group and its work. There was also an opportunity for people to raise issues with the Chair of the group.

10 June 2008

The focus of this meeting was adult services for people with autism spectrum disorder. The group was pleased to be able to welcome the Minister for Health and Social Services, Edwina Hart AM MBE to talk to the group about the work of the Welsh Assembly Government on this topic.

During the meeting, the Minister accepted that more needed to be done to recognise the needs of adults with autism in Wales and that the second stage of the Welsh Assembly Government ASD action plan must reflect this. She explained that a task group would be meeting to consider the needs of adults with autism over the next few months.

30 April 2008

The group welcomed Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning to this meeting. The Minister attended to celebrate the launch of the Welsh Assembly Government Autistic Spectrum Disorder Action plan.

Attendees had the opportunity to ask the Minister a range of questions about the plan, but also more broadly. In particular, the access to appropriate education provision was discussed and the Minister questioned on further education and access to specialist autism support. The Minister has committed to return in the autumn term, to discuss these issues in more detail.

19 December 2007

This session, the group focused on the issue of 'autism awareness'. Rhodri Davies from the National Autistic Society Cymru talked to the group about the Think Differently Campaign being run by NAS Cymru and showed the film clips that the charity is running as viral emails as part of the campaign.

Alun Thomas from the Equality and Human Rights Commission also spoke to the group about the work of the new Commission and its priorities over the coming year.

30 October 2007

The meeting started with the election of a new Chair to replace Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, who has been appointed as a Minister in the new coalition government.

Janet Ryder AM, Assembly Member for north Wales was elected to Chair the group and thanked Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM for his contribution to the group over the past few years.

Representatives from the Disabled Children Matter Wales campaign also addressed the meeting to tell attendees about the work that they are doing to campaign for better services for disabled children and young people in Wales. Visit www.dcmw.org.uk for more information.

6 July 2007

The session focused on transition and the issues that face young people with autism as they move onwards from school. A brief overview of NAS Cymru's Moving on up? report, which highlights the difficulties that young people face at this period in their lives, was given by Rhodri Glyn Thomas, the Chair of the group.

The group heard from Tom Hughes, a young person with autism who has recently left college. He shared his personal experience of transition, including the bullying he had faced at college and his aspirations for the future. Chris Mayers, the parent of a young person with autism, spoke to the group about the difficulties and frustration he has faced in obtaining an appropriate placement for his 20-year-old son.

The meeting was attended by Carwyn Jones AM, the Minister for Education, Culture and Welsh Language who talked about the Assembly's work around transition for young disabled people and responded to the concerns raised by the other speakers.