UNDER EMBARGO
UNTIL - 00:01 FRIDAY 2 APRIL 2021
Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru MS for the Rhondda has today outlined
her party’s pledge to introduce an Autism Act should they form
the next Welsh Government in May.
Leanne Wood recalled the “widespread anger and disappointment”
when Labour voted against an Autism Bill in the Senedd back in
2019, vowing that a Plaid Cymru government make up for this
“missed opportunity.”
On World Autism Awareness Day, the Plaid Cymru candidate for the
Rhondda added that her party’s Autism Act would “adopt a
rights-based approach for people with autism” to support families
and the thousands of individuals who are either struggling to get
a diagnosis or support afterwards.
Dr John Gillibrand is an author and long term campaigner, raising
awareness about autism, and has welcomed the news that a Plaid
Cymru government would introduce an Autism Act. Dr Gillibrand’s
son was diagnosed with autism in childhood, and says that people
“can’t take for granted that support will be equal across Wales”
without embedding statutory responsibility.
said:
“There was widespread anger and disappointment when the vast
majority of Labour Members voted against an Autism Bill in the
Senedd in 2019.
“A Plaid Cymru Government would make up for this missed
opportunity by bringing forward an Autism Act that would adopt a
rights-based approach for people with autism and those suspected
of having autism but are yet to receive a diagnosis.
“When the Autism Bill was voted down by Labour, I clearly recall
the distressing evidence we received from individuals with autism
and their families. They spoke movingly of the challenges they
faced in getting support after diagnosis and in many cases the
struggle of getting a diagnosis in the first place.
“Their stories showed that there is a desperate need for such
legislation. Those stories are still being told – the difference
is that a Plaid Cymru government would be willing to listen.
“There are around 34,000 autistic people in Wales who need and
deserve far greater consistency nationwide in terms of the
provision of support and services available to them.
“A Plaid Cymru government would bring forward the Autism Act to
help these thousands of people and to deliver where Labour have
failed.”
Dr Gillibrand said:
“I welcome the news that a Plaid Cymru government would bring
back the Autism Act, as I was bitterly disappointed when this was
voted down in the Senedd in 2019.
“I understand the difference that the right support at the right
time can make to people diagnosed with autism and their families.
It’s vital that this is embedded into legislation, rather than
leaving such important matters to local discretion.
“People can’t take for granted that support will be equal across
Wales unless this is made a statutory requirement.”
