Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru	National Assembly for Wales
Bil Awtistiaeth (Cymru) drafft	Draft Autism (Wales) Bill
Arolwg Ar-lein DAB136	Online Survey DAB136
Ymateb gan Cyfrannog ar-lein 136	Evidence from Online Participant 136

Please refer to questions in the Online Survey.

Question	Answer
01	Yes
02	Yes
03	Yes It is fundamental that Local Authorities and the NHS have ultimate responsibility to ensure the Bill’s statutory obligations are fulfilled across Wales. It will end the current postcode lottery for access to provision and services. It will put the onus on the statutory bodies to ensure improved,  efficient and appropriate outcomes for the autism community.
04	Yes
05	The NICE guidelines is 3 months and is included in the England Autism Bill - enforced by the courts in recent cases. The current 26 weeks is concerning and a guide only - many families have already waited years going through a system that is still as it h
06	Please can you ensure that this 3 months will not be extended - families like mine cannot afford to wait longer!
07	We urgently need this to become law and the full commitment and resources required for it to work - invest in people with autism and their families to reduce future potential crisis management and give us the appropriate services, resources, provision and
08	Without a doubt - The NICE guidelines is 3 months and is included in the England Autism Bill - enforced by the courts in recent cases. England/Wales cross boarder differences should not mean a significantly poorer service for the Autistic individuals and their families in Wales
09	Yes The diagnosis is not the end of a process - it is only the start of the journey to understanding needs and additional information is essential. This life with autism is a continuous learning curve and as such as a minimum, assessments to identify and meet needs post diagnosis so important to secure best possible outcomes for individuals and their families. Furthermore there should be  opportunities for These baseline assessments to be revisited at key stages to ensure individuals/families have the continued support and signposting to relevant services and organisations.
10	Yes
12	A diagnosis of Autism and opportunities to access support should not depend on IQ - difficulties are not necessarily easier whatever an individual’s IQ is - just different and requires adequate support and signposting if required. We live in a rural community - as easy as possible access to the community activities is fundamental. Communication - in whatever format the individual ‘needs’ is important to avoid another barrier to accessing provision and services Additionally Much more needs to be achieved in Welsh Medium provision, parity in bilingual assessment processes, access to Welsh medium SALT and Pyschology services and Welsh Medium ALN specialist school provision. Indeed ALN specialised school placement in both English and Welsh Medium fall short of demand - mainstream school fails many who have autism with parents having to resort to home schooling because of no alternative appropriate option. Current College provision fails many of our Autistic young adults with LA’s refusing specialised college residential placements to those who would benefit Families have far too often to ‘challenge’ the system to secure adequate and appropriate services or provision. It is financially costly, robs us of quality family time, stressful and utterly exhausting - on top of the demands of caring for a loved one. These ‘challenges’ to try our best to secure improved outcome is continuous and never ending between education, social services and Health - my hope is that an Autism  ( Wales) Act 2018 will be a huge step forwards and reducing these unjustifiable additional stresses.
13	Yes
14	Date collection is important for services to be aware of potential and impending call on services at transition stage amongst other key stages and for planning purposes
15	It should be written on the Bill. Appropriate preparation to meet needs with required resources should be planned for and date is required to enable statutory bodies to do so effectively.
16	Yes Again to be equipped to offer the best possible support for individuals and families
17	It should happen all the time. Awareness should be a continuum and indeed training compulsory for those working in schools, hospitals and for professionals working with those with autism. Specialised Autism teams in social services and health services would greatly benefit Autistic  individuals and their families Awareness should not be the only focus - we need acceptance and appreciation too!
18	This Bill will give individuals and families statutory rights to secure improved timely diagnosis, access to assessments, set the strategy aims clearly and with parity across Wales - it will be welcomed by so many in the autism community!
19	Thank you sincerely Paul Davies AM - and fellow AM supporters - for giving us this opportunity to look forward again. This Bill can only be a positive move forwards - the strategy had which high hopes and it has failed many - badly We need this Autism (W