Nem Kearns:

I thank the Chair. I will share just a few random thoughts covering some of the conversation which has happened so far.

If I can be a little blunt, with respect and in the interests of being constructive, it is also important that we ensure that our work on autism is not a silo. A great amount of work has been done with regard to moving to the social model of disability and needs-led provision by, for example, the Committee on Disability Matters by the disabled persons' organisations, DPOs, nationally and locally. It is very important that while the specific needs and issues facing the autistic community are recognised and given due focus, they are not separated from the disabled community as a whole. It is a common experience and our rights are underpinned and can be upheld in the same ways. The UNCRPD is the best roadmap on that macro level and sets out the ambitions and guiding principles, as well as a unifying way. When we are looking at our strategies, policies, and services for autistic people, we should refer back and ensure that those services are in alignment and compliant with the rights of all disabled people as articulated under the UNCRPD. It is a very useful and human rights-based document. It also acknowledges that autistic people are not just one thing. We have our genders, sexualities, our community and racial backgrounds, but also, very many of us are disabled in other ways, and there is a very significant crossover. We risk creating more gaps and silos if we remove autism strategy and policy from the wider context of disability policy and the UNCRPD.

Another harsh truth regarding training is that it is absolutely essential that the development and delivery of that training is autistic-led. Through my professional career, I have undertaken a range of professional and national level autism training and this has ranged from the very good to the completely factually inaccurate and what was, in fact, more damaging than no information at all. It is important to bear in mind that not all autism training is created equal and that when we are rolling out training on autism and autistic people, we ensure that it is correct on a very fundamental level. Misinformation can be seriously damaging. I have sat through nationally recognised autism training that contained debunked science from decades past, which gave further stigma and created barriers for autistic people and equality.

The Cathaoirleach mentioned RPM, which can be very helpful for some autistic people but the communication differences or barriers for autistic people arise for different reasons. They can range from language processing to apraxia and muscular control issues. When we are talking about assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication, our goal should be to provide access to a wide range in order that individuals can find what works best for them rather than insisting that a prescriptive single type of AAC is the best and should be given to everybody. Not only are people's communications needs different but the reasons they have alternative communication needs may be based on different physical originators.

There was an example of good practice in Ireland. I am not sure if I will get the details completely correct off the top of my head. I believe it was a service under the remit of Citizens Information, which used to provide information on accessible technology in much the same way as Citizens Information but a specialist centralised State independent information service outlining what was available to people, how to access it, whether any grants were available and how to qualify for them. It was an amazing service. While the funding was not renewed, we have a blueprint there and it would also fit into the idea of a centre of excellence. Let me mention that we have a centre of excellence for universal design here in Ireland, which could be an international leader. It has been underutilised to date but it is doing some good work. We should take advantage of it as a country. We have considerable expertise and assets; it is just about utilising them.