Co-production with The Autistic Community
You Can’t Do It Alone
●Partnership Working
●Neurodivergent Networks
●Advisors
●Allies
●Policy Makers
●Service Providers
●Society !!
Lasting change is not created by lone heroes; it requires teams of people, strong institutions, and support from every part of society. No one person can do anything alone and it does take a lot of work to change attitudes and outdated ideas
Autistic UK is an inclusive organisation and one of our biggest aims is to break down “them and us” attitudes.
These are outdated and do nothing towards breaking down stereotypes or building understanding.
At Autistic UK we are firm believers in co-production.
The quickest way to create real sustainable change is to come together as a strong and united community that works together and integrates everyone's views and experiences,
Examples of Co-Production
Welsh Government Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services
The code of practice on the delivery of autism services came in effect on Sept 1st 2021 after many months of consultation and co-production. Two of our directors were involved in the development of the code
The code is made under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the NHS (Wales) Act 2006 and will provide clarity to local health boards, NHS trusts, local authorities and Regional Partnership Boards about their responsibilities and services they are required to provide to support autistic people in their day to day lives. it does introduce new duties and responsibilities on health boards and NHS trusts who must act in accordance with the requirements contained in the CoP and they must also have regard to any guidelines set out in the CoP and its accompanying guidance.
Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board (BCUHB )Code of Practice Steering Group
Autistic UK have been selected by BCUHB as a partner to develop their plan to Implement of The Code within the health board
We know that many autistic people have great difficulty accessing healthcare and BCUHB have recognised the importance of listening to the community and gathering lived experience. We have had our initial meeting with the equality's team and look forward to playing an active role in the steering group moving forward
We will be encouraging the design of training programmes that have a more role specific focus ensuring that autistic people are involved at every step and will be looking at all the areas of healthcare.
Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales -FTWW
Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW) is a patient-led voluntary organisation set up to support, inform, educate, and advocate for girls and women in Wales who are living with a range of chronic, recurrent, often invisible health conditions and who are not receiving adequate (or fair) treatment.
FTWW works in close partnership with Autistic UK and the Autistic Women’s Empowerment Project to help make the case for improved recognition of the many autistic girls and women
Women's Health Coalition Wales
Autistic UK was part of the coalition led by FTWW and the British Heart Foundation aiming to improve health services for women and girls. Women and girls make up just over 50% of the population in Wales. Despite this, medicine and healthcare services have not necessarily met their needs, resulting in significant disparities in care between men and women, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Over 60 organisations came together to write a report to encourage Welsh Government to look at the issues and barriers women are facing and Autistic Uk wrote a statement about the health disparity experienced by autistic girls and women
Through FTWW, autistic women's voices are heard across government and services including representation on
The Women’s Health Plan for Wales was published on Saturday 28th May – International Day of Action for Women’s Health. The document was co-produced by patients, clinicians, professional bodies and health charities, and was co-Chaired by Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW) and British Heart Foundation Cymru (BHF Cymru).
Whilst the plan doesn’t cover every health condition, it covers a wide range of physical and mental health issues which can affect women, girls, and those assigned female at birth throughout or at any point in their lives. You can read the plan in full, here.