Meeting of the Parliament 01 April 2025
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I wish that you had a better photograph of me on the screen, but we will let that pass.
Again, I thank Daniel Johnson for bringing to the chamber today’s debate on the learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill, which is often referred to as the LDAN bill, and for his wider dedication to highlighting neurodiversity more generally.
Although I recognise the frustration expressed in today’s motion and the disappointment that our LDAN bill was not announced in the most recent programme for government—I will come back to that—I also want to highlight the Scottish Government’s efforts to ensure that the legislation reflects the voices of those with lived experience. Those quiet voices have always been there, but the breadth of the Scottish Government consultation has inspired our learning disability and neurodiversity communities to speak up and seize the opportunity to contribute and make themselves heard.
With more than 900 responses from individuals, families and stakeholders, we have dared people to hope for a better future, and we absolutely must follow through. We cannot let them down. Their valuable insight has reinforced not only the necessity of the bill but the urgency of the change that it seeks to bring. The LDAN bill is sorely needed, and it has been deeply disheartening for the autism community and all those who have worked tirelessly for its progress that it is not in the programme for government. I share their disappointment.
Although I appreciate that the bill is developing in an evolving landscape alongside the proposed human rights bill and the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill, the focus should remain on creating a rights-based approach that, while linked, is also independent. I would therefore appreciate a clear and strong commitment from the minister today that we will honour our commitment and be clear on when the draft bill will be published.
As many here already know, I mother autistic children, so the issue is deeply personal to me. Many other members of the Scottish Parliament have also touched on how they are directly affected. It is all around us and it permeates our families, our friendships and our communities.
In thinking about young people, I note that, although every child has the right to full-time education, autistic students face overwhelming inequalities. There are challenges with specialist support and underreported use of part-time timetables, and I would appreciate some clarity on those from the minister today. I am interested in what proportion of autistic pupils receive the full-time education that they are entitled to, how accurate the data is that we hold on part-time timetables, and whether that is comparable across Scottish local authorities. Does the minister believe there is a need for greater transparency around the recording of part-time timetables? Is work being done or planned to assess the impact of part-time education on young people’s achievements and on family wellbeing and finances? That is important, because, as we have heard, when an autistic person struggles, their entire family feels the weight of that struggle.
Advocacy should not be just a crisis intervention; it is a vital form of reablement that can prevent further hardship. When families receive expertise and services that are tailored to their needs, the impact is life changing and, ultimately, more cost effective than dealing with the consequences of inadequate support.
A key aspect of the LDAN bill was the proposal to introduce an LDAN commissioner, which is well supported by the consultation feedback. They would drive accountability, champion rights and inspire cultural change. If the minister has not already done so, I encourage her to get in touch with Alan Thompson, the Welsh commissioner for learning disability, perhaps to discuss any reduction in strain on the NHS and mental health services and how the measure has contributed to closing the poverty gap.
Neurodivergent and autistic people are an investment, not a cost. They make our world more innovative, creative and compassionate, and they open doors that lead to a richer, stronger society. I hope the minister can assure us today that the LDAN community can expect not a lap dog but a guard dog with real teeth and a fierce ambition for their future.
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