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Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 24 February 2026 [Draft]

24 Feb 2026 · S6 · Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Item of business

Neurodivergence

Arthur, Tom SNP Renfrewshire South Watch on SPTV

:I have always sought to make it clear that Government ministers hugely value the contribution of lived experience, and I recognise that the committee does as well. I and colleagues and officials in Government have engaged several times with many of the individuals and organisations that were represented and therefore heard from at your round table, and we hugely value those insights.I assure you that of utmost importance to us in relation to our policy development and implementation is that we take on board and respond to the expertise that is provided through lived experience so that the actions that we are taking are consistent with our values of inclusion and equality.I might ask Georgia to come in with specifics in a moment, but I want to highlight a broader point. Although we will naturally focus on systems, this is also a societal issue. Although that is a much bigger challenge, given the concerted effort that is required over a sustained period to effect cultural change, it will be of the utmost importance to consider that this is not simply about a whole-systems approach but about a whole-society approach, too. As I said in my opening remarks, our world is perhaps still characterised by the norms and approaches that are relevant to neurotypical people but which often disregard the way in which neurodivergent individuals experience the world. That is something that we must address.We recognise the significant progress that has been made over decades by taking a social model approach, to physical disability, for example. The barrier to someone being able to enter a public building or a theatre is not because they use a wheelchair, but because there is no ramp or because the equipment set-up is insufficient to allow them to fully participate. That social model approach has been very influential. Although we acknowledge that there is much work still to be done and much progress to be made, we can recognise the positive impact that the social model has had and that it is possible to effect societal change and to raise standards and expectations about inclusivity in society, so that everyone has an opportunity to fully participate and realise their rights.Of course, that also has to apply to taking a whole-society approach in our response to the significant number of people who are seeking neurodevelopmental assessment support. We recognise that those individuals have always been there, but many of them now have greater awareness, due in part to the tireless campaigning of many of the lived experience organisations that the committee has taken evidence from and that I have had the privilege of meeting. Those organisations have helped to ensure that the community is finding its voice. In doing so, they are helping to effect change at a systems level as well as culturally and societally. I do not know whether Georgia would like to add anything on our engagement around issues of tackling discrimination and promoting a more equitable society.11:45

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Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 24 February 2026 [Draft]

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