Autism (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)
High level priorities
The JSNAA aims to support the development of a lifespan approach for supporting people and to reduce health inequalities for autistic people to create a parity of esteem.
These are the high level priorities identified by autistic people in South Tyneside.
Information, awareness and understanding of autism
Autistic people in South Tyneside have worked with us in partnership to help us to understand what matters to them.
Education and preparing for adulthood
Parents of autistic children told us that they wanted to:
- Ensure that the child's voice was heard.
- Ensure transitions happened smoothly.
Health and support
Autistic people told us that they should be able to access good mental health service, know where to get support and be able to access a diagnosis in a timely manner.
Housing and independent living
Autistic people told us that they wanted to:
- Ensure young people are better prepared for work and independent living when they leave education.
- Housing and support is available and accessible.
Employment
Autistic people told us that they wanted to help people get job, when it was appropriate, by:
- Ensuring autistic children and young people leave education with skills and understanding which they need for employment.
- 兔子先生ing autistic adults to source paid employment.
Criminal justice system
It is important that people working within the criminal justice system have an awareness of autism to enable them to provide better support to the individual based on their needs.
The Liaison and Diversion Service was developed to identify people who have mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities when they first encounter the criminal justice system.
Individuals entering the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders receive support throughout the pathway, or are supported to access another service if appropriate.
The aim of the service is to reduce re-offending.
The , and the each provide commitments which aim to ensure that neurodivergent people can access the right support.
The builds on that and includes ensuring a screening tool is used; neurodiversity support managers will be available to every prison by 2024, who will support neurodivergent individuals to receiving help and support they require whilst in prison and upon leaving prison.