Having made repeated calls for the Welsh Government to end the long-standing human rights abuses Autistic parents and Autistic children are experiencing, North Wales MS and Chair of both the Cross-Party Autism Group and the Cross-Party Group on Disability, Mark Isherwood, today quoted a Flintshire constituent who said only last week that “neurodivergent people are being actively targeted with ‘the usual allegations’ of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII)”.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice over support for families raising disabled children in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood asked “when, if ever, will the Welsh Government therefore take action to stop this cruel abuse”.
He said:
“The Equality Act recognises Autism as a Disability.
“I have previously raised here the Leeds University School of Law research report on ‘The prevalence and impact of allegations of Fabricated or Induced Illness’, or FII, of creating or exaggerating a child's difficulties.
“This included Wales and states that this has been a particular concern for Autistic parents and Autistic children, with Mothers of Autistic children 100 times more likely to be investigated for FII by Children's Services.
“The Association of Directors of Social Services in England report on ‘Autism and Parental Blame’ reached similar conclusions.
“In March, I attended a consultation at St George’s House, Windsor Castle, on the topic of FII.
“The conclusion to the resulting report included ‘False allegations of FII are a constant risk to the public, to families and especially to vulnerable children who are consistently failed by aggressive safeguarding responses that ignore evidence and empathy’.
“Although, the Welsh Government previously told me, five months ago, that it will work through the Neurodivergence Improvement Programme to acknowledge the concerns, a Flintshire constituent wrote only last Friday stating that neurodivergent people are being actively targeted with ‘the usual allegations FII’.
“When, if ever, will the Welsh Government therefore take action to stop this cruel abuse?”
Responding, the Cabinet Secretary thanked Mark for raising the matter and said she would “take this back and ensure that there is a follow up”.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“It is both disappointing and concerning that despite my repeatedly outlining the harm this is causing to Autistic children and their Families, and calling for action, it is still happening on a repeated basis.
“In every single case, these Autistic parents and parents of Autistic children are being treated as the problem by Public Sector Officials at senior levels, who have failed to establish and adapt to their communication, sensory and processing needs, and who continue to fight them rather than recognise that it was they who caused the barriers encountered by these families and that they can be the solution to removing them.”