Giving a Statement in the Senedd to mark World Autism Acceptance Week, North Wales MS and Chair of the Senedd’s Cross Party Autism Group Mark Isherwood highlighted the challenges people with Autism face and the top five things they want the public to know.
In his ‘90 Second Statement’ in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood said although most people have heard of Autism, “too few people understand what it's actually like to be Autistic and how hard life can be if Autistic people don't have the right support”.
He said:
“This week marks World Autism Acceptance Week, which aims to help change attitudes towards Autistic people.
“The National Autistic Society, which is marking its sixtieth year, wants everyone to understand Autism better, and highlights the top five things that Autistic people and families themselves want the public to know: that Autistic people may feel anxiety about changes or unexpected events; experience sensory sensitivity, being either under or over sensitive to sound, smells, light, taste and touch; they may need extra time to process information such as questions or instructions; face high levels of anxiety in social situations; and have difficulties communicating and interacting with other people.
“There are an estimated 30,000 or more Autistic people in Wales, and although almost everyone has heard of Autism, too few people understand what it's actually like to be Autistic and how hard life can be if Autistic people don't have the right support.
“Although diagnosis can be life-changing, helping explain who you are, thousands of children and adults in Wales are waiting many months or even years for assessment. A recent study found that only 28 per cent of Autistic pupils in Wales felt their teachers understood Autism, and new Office for National Statistics data suggests that just 29 per cent of Autistic people are in any form of work. Without support, many Autistic people develop mental health problems, sometimes to the point of crisis. This is why World Autism Acceptance Week is so important.”