Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru

National Assembly for Wales

Bil Awtistiaeth (Cymru) drafft

Draft Autism (Wales) Bill

Arolwg Ar-lein DAB64

Online Survey DAB64

Ymateb gan Cyfrannog ar-lein 64

Evidence from Online Participant 64

Please refer to questions in the Online Survey.

Question

Answer

01

No

Present scientific understanding of Autism is constantly being improved and updated, the precise definition should therefore be determined and maintained by an appropriate professional body.

02

Not sure

03

Yes

04

Not sure

09

Yes

10

Yes

12

Websites that do not meet current accessibility standards.

The requirement to use a specific method of contact (eg phone only, or in person only)

Failure to accommodate other conditions, such as anxiety disorders and other mental health issues.

13

Yes

14

age

gender

the age at point of diagnosis

what health board/local authority area they are in

diagnosis lead time (currently a major problem)

how they were diagnosed

the job titles of the people who diagnosed them

if other tests were done

Any related diagno

15

It should be written in the guidance.

It would be easier to update the guidance to reflect current challenges in obtaining a diagnosis.

16

Yes

It would be reasonable to ask Autism charities for details of people referred for diagnosis or reassessment of their needs and to match this up with outcomes, particularly diagnosis lead times and if the person was given a formal diagnosis.

17

Not sure

18

Personally it would be of great benefit, although I was diagnosed as a child, a great many of my friends and colleagues were not so lucky and would currently be facing waiting times measured in years to simply get a diagnosis.

My half brother only recently obtained a diagnosis (in his late 30s) after a 2 year long wait, with multiple cancelled appointments, when he very clearly presents the expected symptoms.

My partner has long suspected she may also be on the spectrum, but I cannot in good conscience recommend she go through the stress of obtaining a diagnosis under the current system, as even the best experiences I've heard of from adult women involved prolonged waiting times, not to mention frequent misdiagnosis, and subsequent overmedication.