Last week we met with the lead author of the Integrated Impact Assessment.

We raised strong concerns that the assessment does not fully reflect the extent of the true risk to our community. We highlighted many concerns including:

• Racialised people not being recognised at greater risk
• Autistic people accessing maternity care
• Stereotyped views
• Lack of understanding of intersectionality
• Lack of acknowledgement this could lead to an increase in addition, disordered eating, or eating disorders
• Autistic people’s ability to access health care across the board

We raised concerns that while the HSCP may be saving money in the short term it may well be a false economy as they may end up having to bolster services such as drug and alcohol or eating disorder services. Since these were not accurately reflected in the current report, it was not possible for them to fully realise the additional costs required elsewhere.

We were advised that this is a living document and we have offered Aurora Autistic Consulting’s services to update the report to more accurately reflect the impact for free.

Moving forward, we asked what next steps were being taken.

We were informed there is a short lived working group seeking to set up an Autism and ADHD joint pathway. We asked if there are any openly Autistic people sitting on the working group representing the community, ADHDers representing their community, or any openly Autistic or ADHD clinicians. We were informed that there are not, but that they would be seeking community views once the group had a proposal.

This is incredibly disappointing as Marion and an Autistic clinician sat on the original pathway working group to create the existing Grampian pathway. Our input helped ensure that while the waiting list is long, the experiences of those who go through it are positive. We strongly urge the HSCP to get good community representation on this working group now to ensure it will meet the community’s needs rather than wait to consult us afterwards.

The impact of good community co-production with Autistic and ADHD folks leading the way cannot be overstated. We also reiterated the strong need for a good, neuroaffirming ND pathway that is not at risk from financial cuts.

Like you all, we wait and see how the IJB votes tomorrow.

We have received a reply from Minister Maree Todd confirming that she is willing to meet ourselves,  Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics CIC, Autism Rights Group Highland -ARGH, and AMASE - Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh  to discuss the crisis facing the Autistic community re the Autism assessment pathways. We are in the process of arranging a time to do so.

Many thanks,

Marion and Flick