Help inform new autism strategy

A year on from closure of One Stop Shop

People living with autism and their families are being urged to take part in a survey as health chiefs vow to use the results to inform new services.

South Lanarkshire Council launched the local autism action survey in a bid to learn how it can best support people with autism to lead full lives within their community.

Results from the survey will be used to inform the council’s 2018 to 2023 autism survey.

Liam Purdie, head of children and justice services at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We are currently undertaking consultation with all users and stakeholders which will inform the development of an Autism Strategy for South Lanarkshire going forward.

“We are aiming to conclude the strategy around March 2018 and this will form the basis of a five-year strategy that will ensure that those affected by autism, whether children or adults, are included in their communities and society in every way possible to develop and thrive.”

The autism strategy comes more than a year after the much-loved Lanarkshire Autism One Stop Shop closed in Motherwell.

Run by Scottish Autism, the shop closed in June 2016 when both North and South Lanarkshire councils refused to fund it.

The shop offered courses for parents, worked individually with children with autism, ran workshops for siblings and equipped health and education professionals with the skills needed to support local children.

South Lanarkshire Council said its new Autism Resources Coordination Hub (ARCH), formed in 2016, would provide like for like services with the One Stop Shop.

It appointed a project coordinator to manage the Hamilton hub in June 2017.

Mr Purdie added: “We are pleased to be involved in the development of a South Lanarkshire autism strategy with all stakeholders and, in a very short space of time, have made great strides in developing services in South Lanarkshire.

“On behalf of partners and stakeholders, ARCH has been involved in the development of information leaflets and is looking to develop a web page that will allow easy access to services and supports within South Lanarkshire.

“There is also a community directory available, while ARCH has also collaborated with emergency services and Supporting Autism in Lanarkshire in developing ‘at a glance cards’ to assist in improving communication between emergency services and those on the autistic spectrum.

“This group has also developed an autism awareness leaflet for the use of parents and carers that assists them to explain their child’s autistic traits to others as well as the development of an ‘attention I am autistic card’ for young people to carry with them within the community.

“The card details their name and the contact details of their parent/ carer.

“We have an extensive mailing list and, over the summer months, ARCH offered a range of supports, which we hope to do every year.”

People seeking information and support can contact ARCH on 0344 225 1111 or arch@southlanarkshire.gov.uk