Autism Strategy 2023-2028 published

An updated Autism Strategy has been published to support the needs of autistic people throughout their lives.

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition which affects the way that people experience, communicate, and interact with their environment.

This cross-departmental strategy, which runs until 2028, sets out the key commitments and actions needed to enhance and improve support for autistic people and their families.

Peter May, Department of Health Permanent Secretary, said: “The growing prevalence of autism places a responsibility on us, as a society, to be more equipped and informed in our understanding of autism and in the delivery of our services. 

“We must strive to ensure engagement and support in the development of our policies and guidance to enable autistic people, their families and carers to feel supported, and to live fulfilling lives.

“I welcome the publication of this Strategy and the opportunity for us all to work towards a more inclusive society, one in which everyone has an opportunity to participate and feel valued.”

The actions contained within the Strategy are set out under the following five commitments:

• Improving regional pathways of care;
• Working in partnership to ensure autistic people are supported and understood throughout their education;
• Increasing understanding of autism in the workplace;
• Increasing understanding of the housing needs of autistic people;
• Promoting the development more widely of inclusive environments to support the needs of autistic people, their families and carers.

An initial two-year Delivery Plan has been developed to implement the actions contained within the Strategy in a managed and sustainable way, taking account of the challenging financial context.

Progress will be monitored and reviewed on an annual basis.

The core vision for the Strategy, ‘To respect, to Listen, to involve’, emphasises the importance of including autistic people and their families in the development and delivery of actions, policy and services.

The actions have therefore been informed through extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation with autistic people and their families, and with the community and voluntary organisations who represent them.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Autism Strategy 2023-2028, and associated Delivery Plan for 2023-2025, are available to access on the Department of Health website here.
2. More than 35,000 people in Northern Ireland identify as autistic, according to the 2021 Northern Ireland Census.
3. The Autism Act (NI) 2011 places a legislative responsibility on the Department of Health to prepare a cross-departmental autism strategy every seven years.
4. The previous strategy, the Autism – Interim Strategy 2021-2022, was developed and published at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It set the direction for the commitment and ethos that a longer-term strategy would embed.

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