This week is World Autism Acceptance Week!
There are around 700,000 people living with autism in the UK. We need to do more to educate those unaware of the condition and to make society a more welcoming and accommodating place for the autistic community.
I have learned a great deal about the difficulties faced by those with autism since becoming an MSP in 2016. As a result, giving a voice to those with autism and their families has become a priority of mine in Parliament.
As part of this, I co-founded the Cross-Party Group on Autism in 2017, backed calls to examine Scotland’s progress on making this a fairer country for those with autism and learning disabilities and, last year, led a Members debate on the need for further support for Scots with autism and learning disabilities.
As we continue to strive towards creating a society that works for autistic people, I am also grateful for the chance to raise awareness for the National Autistic Society Scotland and the fantastic services they offer. Their Post-Diagnostic Support Service aims to empower young people to develop a sense of identity and belonging, covering topics such as understanding autism, managing anxiety, social communication, and confidence. They also offer a diverse range of online social groups catering to a range of demographics and supporting more than 150 autistic people each week.
For more information on either post-diagnostic support or social groups, contact: ScotlandSocialGroups@nas.org.uk, or visit their website here.
Take some time this week to increase your knowledge of autism and look at the fantastic work of these groups:
ASK Autism North East - Professionals