The Government has said it intends to make significant changes to autism services and accessibility in daily life within the next 18 months as part of its new national autism strategy.
The plan, known officially as the Autism Innovation Strategy, was launched today by Taoiseach Simon Harris, Minister for Integration Roderic O Gorman and Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte.
The strategy includes 83 specific measures under areas such as equality and access, inclusive communities and service improvements.
The plan includes a commitment to implement the measures within the next 18 months.
Speaking at today's launch, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the strategy should not be written solely "by people behind walls here in Leinster House", and that this is about a "person-centred approach".
He declined to say when asked what funding would be included in the plan, saying the budget estimates discussions will be taking place in the coming weeks and that people and journalists "won't have to wait too long".
Among the elements of the plan are:
- to promote greater acceptance and understand of autism in Ireland
- to help empower autistic people in Ireland
- to enhance the skills and competencies of staff working in autism services
- to make it clear that the requirements of autistic people should be considered in terms of terminology related to it
"I am delighted to be launching the Government's new Autism Innovation Strategy," Taoiseach Simon Harris said.
"Publication of this strategy represents the realisation of a clear commitment to action on autism in our Programme for Government.
'Mixed feelings'
Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings on Monday afternoon, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he held an "excellent" meeting with teenage autism campaigner Cara Darmody and her father Mark earlier today.
The Taoiseach said that during the meeting he told Cara that 379 more children received assessments in June, and that he expects that when the July and August figures are released by the HSE it will show that 1,000 children and teens have benefited from the increased focus on ensuring assessments of needs take place this summer.
He said officials are "working on what can be done", including increasing training places and other resources and said there is a 33% increase in university training places for speech and language therapists, language therapists and other specialists in this area.
The Taoiseach also said that he and Cara talked about the need to "ensure disability laws" work best for people, and that he has agreed to meet with her again after the budget.
Cara has said that she has "mixed feelings" following her meeting with the Taoiseach.
The 13-year-old, who is not herself autistic, has been campaigning for the full implementation of the Disability Act.
She has highlighted the provision that anyone with autism on a waiting list should be given an assessment of needs within six months.
Cara's two brothers, 11-year-old Neil and seven-year-old John, are both autistic.
She and her father Mark have been protesting outside Government Buildings in recent months to raise awareness.
At today's meeting, it is understood that the taoiseach gave a commitment to an unspecified increase in funding for autism services, along with a commitment to ensure that the Disability Act is fully implemented.
However, Cara said that he did not give a timeline.
"I've mixed feelings," she said.
"He said he was going to guarantee that the HSE will stop breaking the law, but that he can't guarantee to do that within 12 months.
"I thought 12 months was a generous deadline," she said.
Cara's father Mark, who also attended the meeting, welcomed the increase in funding but flagged ongoing concerns.
"For families with disabilities, are things going to change tomorrow? Unfortunately, they're not."
