The public are being urged to have their say at open days which are being arranged during a three-month long consultation on a new strategy to tackle issues faced by autistic people.
The events are being staged alongside a survey and online seminars on North Yorkshire’s draft all-age autism strategy.
The draft strategy has been developed by autistic people, their carers and families, alongside representatives from the community and voluntary sectors, North Yorkshire Council, heath services, North Yorkshire Police, the Probation Service, education and employment partners.
The document aims to reflect the ambitions and priorities of communities across the county. About 6,150 autistic people live in North Yorkshire based on the 2021 Census.
The consultation builds on previous work and will glean the public’s response to key areas including education and preparing for adulthood, employment, housing and carers as well as assessment, diagnosis and support, health and care, adult and youth justice and inclusive communities.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said: “Whether people find out they are autistic as a child, young person, or adult, being autistic is often an important part of a person’s identity for the whole of their lives. Being autistic means your brain works differently to how other people’s brains work.
“They may need to access different levels of support across their lives in areas such as education, employment, housing, health, and care or within their communities.
“Many different organisations across North Yorkshire have a part to play, working together with autistic people of all ages and their families and it is important that we reflect all this in our strategy by encouraging as many people as possible to take part.”
The consultation started this week with an online webinar. There are also events on:
- December 4: 1pm to 3pm, Skipton Town Hall.
- December 18: 10am to noon, Civic Centre, Harrogate.
- January 9: 2pm to 4pm, Mercury House, Richmond.
- January 13: 10am to noon, online.
- February 1: 3pm to 5pm, Northallerton Mencap.
- February 9: 10am to noon, Brayton Community Centre, Selby.
- February 12: 7pm to 8pm, online.
- February 28: 10am to noon, Friends Meeting House, Malton.
- March 7: 2pm to 4pm, Friends Meeting House, Scarborough.
- March 15: 2pm to 4pm, online.
Details of all events and information about the online and paper surveys, which include versions for children, young people and adults and are in other formats such as easy read or large print, can be found at www.northyorks.gov.uk/AutismStrategyConsultation
Feedback from the consultation will be used to formulate the final draft strategy which is then due to be considered by councillors at an executive meeting next year.
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