Autistic Welsh Pol

In The Politics of Autism, I discuss international perspectives. I write:  "Support from the general public will be an important political asset for autistic people. Another will be their sheer numbers, since a larger population of identified autistic adults will mean more autistic voters and activists." Previous posts have discussed autistic elected officials in the United States.  Autistic people hold office in other countries as well.

Ashleigh Crowter at BBC Wales Live:

You won't find many more sharply dressed people in Welsh politics.

The natty suit, feathered trilby hat and engraved tie-pin reflect just how seriously 26-year-old Kyle Jamie Eldridge takes his job as a town councillor in Abergavenny.

He believes he has been elected to do an important job and so he should look the part.

And Kyle said it is his autism that makes him care about every detail.

"Having autism gives me critical thinking skills, and skills that I think are excellent for public servants," he said.

Since his election last year to represent the town's Park ward, Kyle is the only councillor to have completed all the non-mandatory training that is available.

He is also meticulous in his preparation for council work, renowned for arriving at every meeting, having read and digested all the relevant documents.

Sandra Rosser, the clerk and principal officer for Abergavenny Town Council, said: "He's made it a point to understand fully the importance of good governance, knowing the rights and wrongs of what we can and can't do as town councillors.

Tough Times in the English-Speaking World

Fiscal constraints are affecting autism programs around the English-speaking world.

A case in Ireland, from the Irish Times:

THE LAST school in the State providing specialist Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) education to children with autism has closed, despite promises from Ministers Eamon Gilmore, Ruairí Quinn and James Reilly when in opposition that they would support ABA education.

The Achieve ABA school in Donaghmede, Dublin, which has been providing such education since 2006, closed yesterday as the parents of the eight children there could no longer afford to pay for it.

It has never received direct State funding. Up to now it has been funded in part with the home tuition grants, to which some of its pupils were entitled, and through fundraising. The grant is available to children with special needs between the ages of two and five years.

The funding shortfall had grown to €100,000 a year and, said Pat McCormack, parent of Méabh (5), “that is just not sustainable”.

The ABA method involves analysing the child’s skill levels and applying intensive one-to-one teaching which breaks down whole tasks into small, achievable steps. It applies particular methods to each child’s needs.

Though there were 13 such schools in the State, none was supported by the Department of Education, which says ABA is not “within the department’s policy parameters”.

All have now closed.

From the Waikato Times in New Zealand:

Parents of children with autism have been left angered and upset by the news Autism Waikato will close.

Six paid staff have been left without jobs, and more than 700 families no longer have the support network of the organisation.

Carolyn Jury, whose teenage son has Asperger's syndrome, was "disgusted" that the branch had to close due to a lack of funding.

...

Hamilton-based Labour MP Sue Moroney said funding for not-for-profit organisations had worsened since National made agencies reapply for funding each year through its community response fund.

"Autism NZ has successfully got money for that every year until this year because they have been told it's not regarded as a social service, it's more of a health service and it needs to be funded by a different budget."

BBC reports on a case from Wales:

A psychology professor has accused council officers of presenting inaccurate information to justify closing a unit for autistic children.

Council officers say the Westwood Primary School in Buckley, Flintshire, has not succeeded.

But Prof Richard Hastings says Bangor University research proves the claims inaccurate.

Opponents of closing the unit accused council officials of "unfounded claims, flawed evidence and misinformation".

A report to members of Flintshire council's executive argues children at the Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) unit "often fail to generalise... skills they have learnt".

It says unnamed parents complained the unit "restricted the development of their child's independence skills" and left them with "increased dependency on adult support".

Parents supporting the unit say that is not true and have been backed by Prof Hastings who previously oversaw the Westwood ABA unit.

More on Wales here.

Higher Education for ASD Students in Wales

The Free Press reports:

STUDENTS with Asperger's syndrome are to benefit from a new specialist learning centre in Torfaen.

Priory Coleg Wales opens at Coleg Gwent's Pontypool campus in September, when ten students, aged between 16 and 25, will become the first to access more than 150 academic and vocational courses at the college.

It has classrooms, IT facilities, a therapy room, a learning kitchen and a dining room - all designed to provide retreat when students feel challenged by social situations in the mainstream education college.

See also:

• The National Autistic Society Cymru
• The All Wales Autism Resource
• A Welsh Assembly committee debate on autism:

Good and Bad News from the United Kingdom

From NewsWales:

Significant strides have been made in helping victims of autism in Wales, says Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Social Services.

...

"For the first time ever a local, regional, and national infrastructure for Autism is now in place. Locally there are 22 identified ASD leads, who are now a point of contact for families and professionals at a local level.

"We have engaged fully with stakeholders and have 22 stakeholder groups feeding into this process, plus a national stakeholder group, and as a consequence every local authority area now has a published ASD Action Plan.

"A four strong regional support team based within the Social Services Improvement agency (SSIA) has provided support and regional planning to the 22 ASD leads, resulting in a total of no less than 22 brand new autism projects starting this year.

"These projects involved local authorities working together, often in partnership with the NHS and voluntary sector, to deliver projects which directly benefit children and adults with autism."

Video of Thomas's statement is here.

Don't get too cheerful. From YourCanterbury:

Shocking accounts from parents of autistic children have revealed how lack of Government support has led to their youngsters developing mental health problems.

And figures published by the National Autistic Society (NAS) have shown how 70 per cent of children with autism – a lifelong developmental disability – have mental health problems which could have been prevented.

A report by the organisation found that in many cases this was dismissed by the NHS as an unavoidable side effect of having autism, despite it not being a mental health condition.

Mark Lever, chief executive of NAS, said the NHS offers “inappropriate, ineffectual and sometimes harmful treatments” and called on the new Government to prioritise the problem.

Autism in Wales

Governments all over the world have to deal with autism. From time to time, this blog will post information about autism policy and politics outside the United States. The latest example comes from the United Kingdom:

THE Government must fulfil its commitment to adults living with autism, by supporting the development of an effective Adult Autism Strategy, says a Gwent MP.

Don Touhig is trying to raise awareness about the effects of autism and those living with the condition, and his latest move is to table an early day motion (EDM) in the House of Commons.

The Islwyn MP's EDM will call on the Government to fulfil its commitment to the Adult Autism Strategy, which will seek to maximise opportunities for people living with autism, and which has been subject to wide-ranging consultation.