Survey reveals need for new official
Families like the Camerons were among those in Scotland to respond to the recent survey conducted by National Autistic Society Scotland and Scottish Autism into the urgent need for a commissioner to champion their rights.
In ranking priorities, the majority of respondents insisted that a commissioner should hold local authorities, service providers and the Scottish Government to account in providing adequate support to autistic people and their families.
Fifty-eight percent of survey respondents said they need mental health support for themselves or for an autistic person they support, and 49 percent indicated that they need support in education.
Yet, first person accounts from autistic people and families in the report show that too many are struggling to get the support they desperately need from public services.
Rob Holland, director of the National Autistic Society Scotland, said:“the commitment to establish a commissioner for autistic people and people with a learning disability was an SNP manifesto commitment at the last election, but we’ve only inched forward and now with the delay in the public consultation until the end of this year, there’s a very real concern that this important work is simply not being prioritised.
“The longer the delay, the longer diagnosis waiting lists grow, the longer people go without the care and support they need, the longer people are stuck in hospital, and the longer children wait for support in school.”
His comments are echoed by Charlene Tait, deputy chief executive of Scottish Autism, who said: “every day, we encounter individuals and families whose human rights are being breached as a result of a lack of accountability within the system.
“All too often, it feels like the system works against autistic people and their families, when it should be working for them.
“They need a commissioner in their corner.
“We consider that the creation of a commissioner is a necessity, and we call on the Scottish Government to develop a sense of urgency on this issue.”