Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood, who Chairs the Assembly Cross Party Autism Group, has raised concerns with the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM, over late college funding decisions for young people on the autistic spectrum, which can be disastrous for the young people affected.
Addressing the Minister in the Chamber this week, he said:
“When Careers Wales refers funding applications for college placements for young people with autistic spectrum conditions (to the Welsh Government), it requires letters of support from Social Services in the relevant County Council. The Cross-Party Autism Group has heard evidence from many families of severely autistic young people who are often given under a week between a decision on funding and their child starting college, despite the recommendations of the Enterprise and Learning Committee in the last Assembly, and casework from parents has highlighted Careers Wales being unable to get letters from Social Services by the 31 January deadline.
“Would you look at that with regard to the key role that Social Services plays, so that those funding applications from Careers Wales can get in in time to meet the needs of young people with autistic spectrum conditions?”
The Minister agreed to look into the matter and said “it has not been brought to my attention until now.”
Mr Isherwood added: “Research by the Cross Party Autism Group has identified a continuing problem with parents of young people on the autistic spectrum being given decisions on funding and on their child starting college at very short notice, despite their need for planned transition, which can be disastrous for the young people affected.”
