New Commissioner to Champion Rights of People with Autism and Learning Difficulties

That the Parliament notes the ‘Our Voice Our Rights’ campaign calling for a new commissioner to champion the rights of people with autism and learning disabilities; understands that the commissioner would be the first of its kind in the world; acknowledges the collaboration of charities, Enable Scotland, National Autistic Society Scotland and Scottish Autism; agrees that for too many individuals the reality of their interaction with services locally does not match the aspirations of law and national policy and that a commissioner would serve as a means to address this; recognises the daily struggle many of those with autism and learning disabilities have to access their rights to education, work, a family life, healthcare and high-quality social care services; highlights that there are currently an estimated 56,000 autistic people and 120,000 people with a learning disability in Scotland; supports the argument that a commissioner would provide a powerful voice advocating on their behalf with public bodies who have a duty to provide equal access to services and support, and hopes that the Scottish Government will actively consider the creation of such a position in the next session of the Parliament.