Mr. Adam Harris:

I thank the Chair, members of the committee and all the teams supporting the committee for the co-operation and engagement with us since last summer. Today is really important in providing a forum to hear from autistic voices. Huge diversity is what makes our community unique and strong. Such is the diversity and strength of the autism community, the time remaining to the committee today should really just be a starting point or a continuation. There are still many more perspectives from within our community and particularly intersectional perspectives that can enrich the work of the committee in the months ahead.

As has already been referred to, we are delighted to be working with the committee on the training and accreditation piece because it is important that parliament is accessible for autistic people. A number of months ago, the committee had a meeting in joint session with the disability committee looking at the area of accessibility. It is an interesting example of where the law often says one thing but does not always honour what it says, in particular, to autistic people. Even though in recent years, we have seen improved physical access in many instances, the reality is that autism accessibility in public spaces is often not considered at all. We have heard this point made in many of the contributions today. That is a positive point.

The committee has recently examined some important themes such as health, education, employment and communication. It is clear the system is failing across the board in many respects, with dire consequences for autistic people and our families. It is also fair to say that resourcing and improved systems are part of the solution. However, there needs to be a significant change in attitudes towards autism and how we regulate the supports and training that are delivered to autistic people. We see that in particular when we talk about education. We are already seeing the conversation start again about suitable school places for September and whether we will have enough. We have to recognise that simply having places or having chairs for children to sit on is not providing an accessible education for autistic people. We need policies to protect autistic people within the education system, that value the different way autistic people think and communicate and protect autistic people from restraint, expulsion, seclusion or suspension. We have a long way to go in with regard to these issues.

It is positive that the committee has decided to extend its work. In the autism community and in the broader disability community, when opportunities like this present themselves there is always an initial excitement about what this opportunity could achieve. Then there is always the fear that this will just be another report, as often happens in Ireland, where a huge piece of work is done and brilliant policies are formulated but never get properly implemented. Having this committee, which comprises such an engaged group of Deputies and Senators, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for autistic people. It is important that the committee is given the time needed to do its work. Many of the sorts of issues that we think are important to be looked at in the time ahead have been touched on today. They include adult diagnosis, social protection, mental health and mortality through to issues that perhaps people do not always think about at first when it comes to autism, such as the criminal justice system, housing and public transport.

We also need to look at the laws that exist in Ireland, specifically the Disability Act 2005, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and equality legislation. We need to look at where they are and are not delivering for autistic people. There is an accountability gap in many instances when it comes to the implementation of policy and regulation. Whether we are talking about behavioural-based approaches which can greatly disadvantage and harm autistic people through to how diagnosis in the private system operates, there is a real need for greater regulation.

Coming out of this process in June, we would like to see a costed report that sets out clear measures and, critically, leads to legal change. If there is not a law underpinning the sort of reform that is needed, we will be back here in ten years having the same conversation.

It has been clear today and throughout all of the committee meetings so far that the core of the autism community is autistic-led groups and local support groups that are often doing all of the work and operating almost entirely voluntarily. One of the key outcomes of the committee's work should be appropriate support and resourcing for this activity. If what is being achieved can be achieved in the manner that it is, I cannot imagine what could be achieved if there were targeted supports to these groups and activists.