Petitioner: Duncan MacGillivray
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
13 September 2018
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that an agenda of real and meaningful change for autistic people is pursued by introducing the following targets and outcomes by 2021:
- That every person in Scotland going through an autism diagnostic procedure will be assessed within a calendar year and receive a statutory services assessment from a qualified social worker as an integral part of this process, within twelve months from the date of their initial referral.
- That children with autism in mainstream schools will have their assessed needs for classroom support met by an ASL assistant with a recognised autism qualification as part of a mandatory registration process for ASL professionals.
- That young adults with autism will have a statutory right to specialist support from their local authority up to the age of 25.
- That an Autism Act will be in place within the next 5 years to enshrine specific rights and services for autistic people in our legal system.
82 off-line signatures have been collected.
Summary:
27 September 2018: PE1704 by Duncan MacGillivray on Improve targets and outcomes for autistic people in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, all local authorities, the National Autistic Society, the Autism Network Scotland, relevant teaching unions and unions representing non-teaching staff working in schools. Link to Official Report 27 September 2018
20 December 2018: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. It also agreed to write to the local authorities who had not replied to its previous request views. Link to Official Report 20 December 2018
5 September 2019: The Committee agreed to close the petition under Standing Order Rule 15.7 on the basis that there is limited support for the majority of actions called for in the petition. The Committee also agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the Education and Skills Committee and the Health and Sport Committee. Official Report of Meeting 5 September 2019
Written Submissions:
Future consultations must facilitate the wider involvement of those affected by autism in Scotland and not be based solely on the views of chosen groups.
More thought must be given as to how to ensure parents and unpaid carers living with autism are supported to be heard.