Have your say on a New Barnsley all-age autism strategy
Members of the public are invited to attend the first in a series of drop-in events to help develop new, long-term plans for supporting people with autism of all ages in Barnsley.
All the feedback received over the next few months will help to collectively develop a local strategy to meet the needs of children, young people and adults with autism, their family members and carers in Barnsley.
The new Barnsley All-Age Autism Strategy will be developed based on the six National Strategy commitments for autistic children, young people and adults:
Improving understanding and acceptance of autism within society
Improving autistic children and young people’s access to education, and supporting positive transitions into adulthood
Supporting more people with autism in employment
Tackling health and care inequalities for autistic people
Building the right support in the community and supporting people in inpatient care
Improving support within the criminal and youth justice systems
Wendy Lowder, Executive Place Director for Barnsley at NHS South Yorkshire said: “Autism is a lifelong developmental condition which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. NHS South Yorkshire, Barnsley Council and local health and social care partners want to improve the lives of people with autism who live or work in Barnsley.”
“It’s important we work in partnership with local people to understand what matters to them. Hearing the voices of people with autism and those who care for and support them will mean we can make sure our plans for Barnsley people.
“If you have lived experience of autism, an autism diagnosis, if you’re currently on or have been on an Autism pathway or are a parent/carer of someone with or awaiting an autism diagnosis, then we want to hear from you.”
Cllr Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities said: “We want Barnsley to be the place of possibilities for everyone who lives here, which means that people need equal access to the public services they need to lead healthy, safe and fulfilling lives. This all-age Autism Strategy will see us working with partners to make sure that whatever their age, people with autism will have an equality of access and their needs better understood across education, care and health services.”
Share your experiences to develop Barnsley’s All-Age Autism Strategy online and at local events:
Fill in an online survey on the NHS South Yorkshire website from 7 November.
Come to a drop-in event at Shaw Lane Sports, Shaw Lane, Barnsley, S70 6HZ, on Tuesday 7 November. Drop in any time between 10:30am and 2pm.
For more information and to find out more about future drop-in events, visit:
southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/barnsleyautismstrategy
