Autism Strategy 2023-2028 Consultation Document

Overview

Background

In March 2021 the Minister for Health, Robin Swann, published an Autism - Interim Strategy for the years 2021-2022 with the vision ‘To respect, to listen, to involve’ and this has been central to the work that the Department of Health has been undertaking in relation to autism in recent years.

We recognise that autistic people, their families and carers can only be supported if they are involved and have opportunity to influence the work that we do.

The current autism strategy is drawing to an end and to prepare for a further autism strategy and action plan to commence in 2023, last year we launched a public questionnaire to provide opportunity for autistic people, their families and carers, and also the services and organisations who provide support, to tell us what the priorities for this strategy needed to be.  

A summary of the responses to this questionnaire can be accessed here.

Autism Strategy 2023-2028 | Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk)

You may also be aware that legislation, the Autism (Amendment) Act (NI) 2022,  will provide further support to autistic people, their families and carers was enacted in April 2022.  A copy of this legislation is available at the link below.

Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)

Each of these documents are important in driving forward the work that must be achieved in the coming years.

However, it continues to be important that all people who have lived experience of autism, care for an autistic person or have an autistic relative remain central to informing what needs to change or improve, therefore we would invite you to complete this consultation to contribute and express your views.

Why your views matter

The Department of Health would welcome your views on how we develop the action plan for the next autism strategy.

What happens next

We are asking these questions because we want to know more about what life is like for you.  We want to get a better idea of what support you receive, and how support could be improved.

If there are questions you would prefer not to answer, we understand that.  The answers you provide will be helpful.

Please note: If you are answering these questions as a carer, parent, relative or friend of someone who is autistic, please answer the questions as they relate to that person.