An independent review has found Scotland’s autism strategy is not doing enough to make people with autism feel “respected, accepted and valued”.

The evaluation of the strategy commissioned by the Scottish government flags a number of reasons for lack of progress at a local level, including the need for greater leadership and accountability, as well as difficulties in partnership working.

Issues around funding – specifically local funding for services being withdrawn once national funding ceased – also caused problems.

Nick Ward Director of National Autistic Society Scotland said:  

“What is clear from this report is that autistic people and their families are still, after ten years, not getting the vital support that they need to live meaningful and fulfilled lives.

“Today’s review of the Scottish Strategy for Autism echoes findings from last year’s ‘Accountability Gap’ report produced by the Cross-Party Group on Autism which found that, while progress had been made, 72% of individuals and their families did not get enough support to meet their needs.” 

The ten-year autism strategy, co-created by the Scottish government and local council organisation COSLA, set out with the vision that by 2021 autistic people would be “respected, accepted and valued by their communities and have confidence in services to treat them fairly so that they are able to have meaningful and satisfying lives”.   

In 2019, the charity warned of autistic people waiting “many months, even years” for diagnosis after being referred, which led to calls for an update to the strategy, to include ‘meaningful and measurable outcomes’, a three-month referral to first assessment waiting time target and a national audit of the benefits of faster diagnosis.

This year’s review concluded that ‘real change for many autistic people, both in how they engage with services and in how they are supported to live productive lives, was not as evident’.

To have a greater impact, ‘the services and support need to have greater reach, become embedded and be sustained’ said the report, with criticism directed at local authorities who did not act at the pace, breadth or spread that was needed.

Despite shortcomings, the evaluation found the strategy - that comes to an end this year – oversaw the creation of many valuable resources, as well as fostering an increased understanding and knowledge about what works to enable autistic people to live a fuller life. 

Mr Ward said he was “delighted that the Scottish government has committed to establishing a commissioner”, who they believe if in possession of “robust powers to uphold rights, challenge bad practice and promote good will lever real change”.

The report recommends various actions moving forward, including narrowing focus of future work so there is more likelihood of effective delivery as well as placing stronger requirements on local authorities to deliver.

Read More: Call for autism strategy refresh; Disabled people still fear treatment denial; ‘Wide variation’ in autism care

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