Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01704 · Session 5

Improve targets and outcomes for autistic people in Scotland

Closed Submitted 1 Aug 2018 Health
Signatures
0
1,013 online signatures with a country
Comments
85
Considered
3 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that an agenda of real and meaningful change for autistic people is pursued by introducing the following targets and outcomes by 2021:
That every person in Scotland going through an autism diagnostic procedure will be assessed within a calendar year and receive a statutory services assessment from a qualified social worker as an integral part of this process, within twelve months from the date of their initial referral.
That children with autism in mainstream schools will have their assessed needs for classroom support met by an ASL assistant with a recognised autism qualification as part of a mandatory registration process for ASL professionals.
That young adults with autism will have a statutory right to specialist support from their local authority up to the age of 25.
That an Autism Act will be in place within the next 5 years to enshrine specific rights and services for autistic people in our legal system.

What the petitioner did first

I have raised these issues with my MSPs, including Michael Russell, Donald Cameron and John Finnie and with MSP’s with previous ministerial responsibilities, Jamie Hepburn and Shona Robison.
I have raised my concerns with civil servants/advisors to government.
I also had a petition last year hosted by change.org calling for similar actions. This petition amassed 2,014 signatures and approximately 200 comments of support.
I originally intended for this petition to be considered by the Committee much earlier in 2018, but unfortunately it was not processed in time by the Petitions Department.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 27 Sep 2018
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 20 Dec 2018
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 5 Sep 2019
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

1,013 online signatures
  1. Scotland854 84.3%
  2. United Kingdom122 12%
  3. England24 2.4%
  4. United States4 0.4%
  5. Australia2 0.2%
  6. Northern Ireland2 0.2%
  7. Belgium1 0.1%
  8. Wales1 0.1%
  9. Netherlands1 0.1%
  10. Ireland1 0.1%
  11. 1 other countries1 0.1%

Comments

85 comments, oldest first
85 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Duncan F MacGillivray 1 Aug 2018
    We need some real improvements for the autism community in Scotland, not vague nonsense!
  2. Suzanne Macleod 1 Aug 2018
    The Scottish government needs to stop writing these children off they are capable of contributing to society if supported correctly.
  3. Anne Casement 1 Aug 2018
    Please help this very worth while cause
  4. Elizabeth Parker 1 Aug 2018
    I hope this petition is taken seriously and acted on in full. Its not good enough to try to care for children there needs to be statutory guidelines of what that actually means.
  5. Catherine Byrne 1 Aug 2018
    These Kids are new Generation We need to Nuture and Prepare and Teach us the way Forward.
  6. Joanna mccoll 1 Aug 2018
    Agree
  7. Caroline cummings 1 Aug 2018
    Please help
  8. Karen Herbison 1 Aug 2018
    Children are luckier if diagnosed with Autism young. Having worked with children with ASD for many years I knew the signs.other children and adults aren't so lucky
  9. Paul Haggerty 1 Aug 2018
    Got many friends with kids with wide ranges of autism in this country, something's wrong and has to be addressed.
  10. Diane Jess 1 Aug 2018
    Everyone in Scotland counts, everyone deserves the chance to succeed whatever their disability. Everyone counts..
  11. Janette Robb 1 Aug 2018
    I wish something could be done for those OVER 25 years of age. So many are trapped within adult psychiatry where knowledge and experience of the condition seem sparse. Nothing but drugs available
    - and they make things worse
    - causing psychosis and other unwelcome side effects. It's a desperate situation.
  12. Claire Gallacher 2 Aug 2018
    Read & signed
  13. Lucy Sumsion 2 Aug 2018
    This support for young people who are autistic is desperately needed and long overdue.
  14. Allan Craig 2 Aug 2018
    This is vital and would change many people's lifes. If you want a society that is caring for those that really need help then this would make such a difference
  15. Joan Hagan 2 Aug 2018
    Noting
  16. Linda Jackson 2 Aug 2018
    If an autistic child is in mainstream school, the school should cater for their needs. They should be part of a classroom setting so that they can participate in their schooling. They might lack in social skills but if the school don't encourage them to join in, things will not improve for them. Help them don't hinder them.
  17. Charelle Sadler 2 Aug 2018
    Absolute joke that it takes so long to get a diagnosis .
  18. Janet Macgillivray 3 Aug 2018
    Signed
  19. Eric Bowie 3 Aug 2018
    Everyone has the right to the same opportunities, just because some need additional support does not mean that they should be excluded from seeking those opportunities.
  20. Dougie Milton 3 Aug 2018
    Please
  21. Arthur Wiseman 3 Aug 2018
    This directly affects me and my family, please sign up to the petition. Thank You
  22. Linda Dick 3 Aug 2018
    Scottish government will not disappoint.
  23. Lynn Wilson 3 Aug 2018
    Change is neeeded
  24. Susan Gill 3 Aug 2018
    It is hard to believe that this support is not already in place. Scotland should be ashamed of its performance in this area
  25. Linda Mcphee 4 Aug 2018
    There is no help for children with school avoidance issues, everything is a fight daily and now that school attendance officers have been removed , there is no hope.
  26. David andersson 4 Aug 2018
    For the beter of family and children
  27. Lisa Donnelly 4 Aug 2018
    This is something that should be done for all autistic people and children. I have spent years going through the system that is not fit for its purpose.
  28. Elaine mcguire 5 Aug 2018
    Autism needs better recognition and support for children and young people
  29. Alice Donaldson 5 Aug 2018
    Let our voices be heard
  30. Edward Fowler 6 Aug 2018
    The Autism Strategy has failed the autism community. We have to have stringent measures in place for it to work.
  31. Mrs Antonia Cardy 6 Aug 2018
    please help our children by putting all the right things inplace and not make familys suffer having to fight all the time
  32. Irene Birtwhistle 6 Aug 2018
    Staff in mainstream schools do not understand autistic children's needs and they feels like they are an inconvenience to everyone. Change is needed fast. The future looks bleak.
  33. Gillian Tosh 6 Aug 2018
    It has been damaging to autistic children's wellbeings to have people unqualified to access them. They have suffered with mental health issues due to having unqualified staff not recognise adhd,autism or PDA and punishment instead of support.PDA needs to be recognised by more professionals. Not recognising PDA can damage their health and parents can be blamed by school and social services
  34. Hilary Mckelvie 6 Aug 2018
    We need to supplier this and make more changes
  35. Angela cunningham 7 Aug 2018
    This is a must for all ages.
  36. Christina clark 7 Aug 2018
    Always needs support happy to help
  37. Lesley Leishman 7 Aug 2018
    Waiting time for assessment is far too long.Once diagnosed the fight continues for the right amount of support within the classroom.Too many children being failed and denied the right to be educated within an environment to suit their needs.
  38. Ruth Miller 7 Aug 2018
    This is such a shame for the children and their families people should not have to fight for this daily
  39. Linda Mcgilvary 8 Aug 2018
    The lack of services affects families
  40. Graham Cairns 8 Aug 2018
    The waiting is far too long more needs to be done
  41. George Gair 11 Aug 2018
    Autistic people have a lot to offer but just need the openings and chance to prove it
  42. Karen Mackintosh 11 Aug 2018
    With proper support and back up autistic people can contribute to our society
  43. Sybil Norrie 15 Aug 2018
    Inclusion for all is law. Which means more support is required in all schools to meet pupils needs.
  44. LesleyAnne Couper 16 Aug 2018
    I had to fight tooth and nail to get any sort of help for a family member.
    They are autistic with no language. They have been discharged a number of times due to lack of funding and staff.
    There is also no aftercare for the family and carers of autistic people. They are given a diagnosis and left to deal with it.
    A health visitor has only been involved twice with the family member since they were born and didn't believe the family when it was explained about their concerns about them being autistic. The family member had to continue to contact paediatricians and services until they finally got them monitored over 6 months before diagnosis.
    If early intervention is the key then why do the services not take family members seriously when they express their concerns?and from the moment they start to take notice the process of diagnosis can take months to a year
    More awareness and more experienced staff are needed as more and more people are being diagnosed
  45. Katie Bennett 18 Aug 2018
    Autism can be a hidden disability. Please give the support that is needed
  46. Wendy millar 18 Aug 2018
    This will open doors and give opportunity to young adults with autism.
  47. Ms Morag C Jamieson 18 Aug 2018
    Getting it right for every child should include autistic children.
  48. Dana Campbell 19 Aug 2018
    ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE THE CORRECT CARE FOR CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM OR WHO NEED ADDITIONAL NEEDS IF THE SCHOOL CANT PROVIDE THE EXTRA CARE THEY ARE NOT BIDDING FOR THE CORRECT CQRE COMPONENTS NEEDED AND OBVIOUSLY ARE MOT PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST!
  49. Karen Proctor 19 Aug 2018
    Such an important issue!
  50. Donna McCracken 19 Aug 2018
    This is disgusting. If a child has a need of support to be in full-time education then it should be met. These children are the future, they need help now to achieve all they can.