3. What impact is COVID-19 having on people living with autism in Wales? OQ55961

COVID-19 has been a really difficult time for autistic people in Wales, and we're working with partners, including the National Autistic Society, to support autistic people throughout this pandemic. We'll continue this joint work to minimise the longer term impact of the virus on autistic people's lives.

Thank you for that answer, Minister. I've been listening to the voices of some of my constituents, who are concerned about the profile of people living with autism and other learning disabilities throughout this pandemic. In our Senedd debates, we're familiar with questions about vulnerable groups and, as often seen in the media, the attention most immediately turns to our older citizens and to care homes. But there are other groups who also need our attention, not least those living in both residential and supported accommodation. Their families need to both hear and then see that their needs are being recognised as a priority as the Welsh Government makes plans to deliver a vaccination programme. I hear about people in care settings who've been withdrawing from contact with families, as they don't fully understand the relevance or the benefit of technologies like Zoom. So, can you assure me, Minister, that people living with autism, and other learning disabilities, and their families, are receiving the rightful consideration in your plans?

Well, I can give you that assurance, Dawn. Just to make it clear, right from the beginning of the pandemic, when we were requesting people not to leave their homes, we did, right at the beginning, give exemptions to those people with autism because we understood that they needed to follow certain patterns, that they needed to get out on a regular basis. So, right from the beginning, we have been sensitive to those needs and, of course, as we now look forward to the vaccination roll-out, that's an example of where we need to just be aware that there's an area there that we need to think about, as to how people with autism are likely to respond. Guidance is being developed in preparation for the roll-out of that vaccine, and that information will be available on Autism Wales's website.

The other thing to be clear about on this is that we are very keen to make sure that people living with autism do receive that support, not just when it comes to vaccine roll-out, but also when it comes to more general interaction with the NHS.

The 'Left stranded' report, published by the National Autistic Society and partners, shows that as well as significantly exacerbating the long-established challenges that autistic people face, the coronavirus pandemic has had a severely detrimental impact on the mental health of autistic people and their families. The already long waits for assessment and diagnosis services have been exacerbated even further, with only one in four children and young people in north Wales receiving an autism assessment from local neurodevelopmental teams within six months of referral, with many waiting much longer.

The pandemic has also laid bare the lack of understanding of autism within our education system, also severely impacting the mental health of autistic pupils. What additional help can the Welsh Government therefore give these services now to bring down these long waits, to provide people with the support they need as quickly as possible? And, given the Welsh Government's previous commitment to ensuring that all teachers receive mandatory training in autism as part of their initial teacher training, which is needed now more than ever, can the Minister provide an update on plans to deliver this?

Thank you very much, Mark. I have read the 'Left stranded' report, and I think it does make some very interesting reading, and I'll be looking forward to discussing that with the chief executive of the National Autistic Society when I meet her next week. 

Just in terms of access to services during COVID-19, services are coming together to exchange good practice and support is being offered virtually, of course, whenever that is possible. The other thing that we're doing is making sure that an online assessment tool is being developed, which will meet the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence compliance guidelines. You'll be aware that the public consultation on the code of practice is currently happening—it's ongoing right now—and we're expecting that to be closed on 14 December.

You talk also about the training needed in relation to additional learning needs, and you'll be aware that the new training programme will include an effort to make sure that there is an understanding of the additional learning needs system. That is going to have a complete overhaul, as you're aware, and the hope is that the code and the regulations in relation to additional learning needs will be laid before the Senedd in February.