Autism to kenism

As an autistic man with an autistic son I have been dismayed by the lack of autism support services in Scotland. The current Scottish Government has over the last decade followed a disingenuous approach to the worsening crisis facing the autism community in Scotland.

Rather than address specific areas of deficit in service – diagnostic waiting times, support in schools, autism-friendly respite, proper assessment by specialist social workers – they have opted for “groundbreaking” gimmicks like their failed tenyear Autism Strategy.

This approach is more akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and involves conference-type events providing unfocused wish lists, guides and production of documents without ever getting to the real problem – there are no support services. After the letdown of their Scottish Autism Strategy, the SNP’S manifesto for the forthcoming election, an almost-80 page document, ascribes barely half a dozen lines to the issue. This election’s offering consists of installing an Autism Commissioner (timescale unspecified) to ensure those living with autism will finally get the support they legally merit. That is, a process will begin that will eventually install a well-paid person who will insist that autistic people receive services that are not actually there!

This offering is being promoted by large charities that receive substantial funding from the Scottish Government and is being presented as a grassroots “campaign” that by good fortune matches exactly the proposal in the SNP manifesto. This tokenism is simply an insult to an already marginalised group who have already endured over a decade of hardship.

DUNCAN F MACGILLIVRAY

Victoria Road, Dunoon