Gateshead Autism Strategy 2025-2030
Vision
Our vision is for Gateshead to be a place where autistic people can thrive. People can live healthy and fulfilling lives in communities which value their individuality and support them to achieve their goals.
The vision of this strategy is closely aligned to the Gateshead Health & Wellbeing and Thrive strategies. These documents set out the Gateshead Vision for health and wellbeing. Simply this is; Good Jobs, Homes, Health and Friends. To do this we have pledged to:
- put people and families at the heart of everything we do
- tackle inequality so people have a fair chance
- support our communities to support themselves
- invest in our economy to provide sustainable opportunities for employment innovation and growth across the borough
- work together and fight for a better Gateshead
- we want Gateshead to be a place where everyone thrives
A key challenge of this vision is to make sure that the vision is delivered for autistic residents, in partnership with our autistic residents.
To make this happen, these are some of the things we know and plan to do:
Tackle inequality so people have a fair chance
What we know
Autistic people are more likely to have chronic mental and physical health conditions and report lower quality healthcare than others - view Cambridge research (opens new window). Autistic children, young people and adults are known to experience far higher inequalities than non-autistic people. These inequalities are far reaching across society and our communities. They also impact on how autistic people access health and social care and can and do result in poorer outcomes, on average someone who is autistic will die 16 years younger than someone who is not autistic. Autistic children, young people and adults living in the most deprived areas of Gateshead will be at an even greater disadvantage.
Outcome
Autistic children, young people and adults will have access to the same health and wellbeing services and support as their peers.
What we plan to do
We will make sure that services and support understand and implement reasonable adjustments, acknowledging that a reasonable adjustment will vary from individual to individual.
Work with autistic people to ensure they can understand themselves and achieve what matters to them
What we know
Autistic people have shared that they were dissatisfied with the amount of local information and support available to them - view Involve North East - stakeholder views of autism services in Gateshead 2023 report (opens new window). Provision is not always accessible in terms of location and operating hours. While there is a lot of information available about autism, autistic people feel that much of it is written for parents/caregivers or professionals rather than autistic people themselves.
"On diagnosis I was handed some leaflets and that was it."
"I've never felt like the support was for families like ours."
"Once you get a diagnosis you don't get any help towards anything."
"Everything just seems to be about kids. I get that's probably their biggest funding and they have to but it's really not fair. It's quite off-putting when you're like trying to find out stuff about autism and you just keep getting, here's what your parent should be doing for your children and you're kind of like, this isn't helpful, that won't work for me."
"Autism is a genetic condition, it is therefore more likely that parents and siblings are also on the spectrum. As a consequence, any support offered should take this into account."
Outcome
Autistic children, young people, adults, and their families/caregivers will say that they are able to get clear information when they need it and find the right support to meet their needs. Staff will have a good understanding of how to support autistic children, young people, adults, and their families/caregivers.
What we plan
Work with experts by experience to understand the various routes people use to get to do information and support. Work alongside and use insight from autistic residents to test out different approaches to pre and post diagnostic support for adults. Review the offer available to children and young people and their families, making improvements as needed based on their experiences.
Create fair employment and good work for all
What we know
The recent Buckland Report (opens new window) said that only around 3 in 10 working age autistic people are in employment, compared with around 5 in 10 for all disabled people and 8 in 10 for non-disabled people.
Outcome
People will say that local recruitment practices meet their needs
What we plan to do
Confirm that all Gateshead organisations are clear about their obligations in this area, and they are reflected in each organisation's workforce strategy and in practice. The Equality Act 2010 (opens new window) legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. Work with the Department for Work and Pensions and wider employers, including the thriving technology sector, in Gateshead to help support their recruitment practices and support on the job. Reasonable adjustments may need to be able to be flexible throughout employment. There are some excellent examples of the talent of autistic people being realised through recruitment organisations such as Auticon.