One of the exciting but sometimes frustrating elements of
local campaigning is that you are never entirely sure how far things will get
when you start pushing. When I started
looking at the picture in Herefordshire it did not seem hopeful. There was no Autism Partnership Board, an
unclear picture over who the Autism Lead was and hardly any action since the
Autism Strategy was published in 2010.
Nine months down the line we are looking at a very different
picture. In a week’s time the first
meeting of the Autism Partnership Board will be held in Herefordshire to
develop and deliver an implementation plan.
There is a local strategy signed off by the Council and a clear Autism
Lead who is pushing things through on a priority basis. A senior County Councillor
What has been most effective in moving things along in this
way has been connections. When I first
started to engage with the county there was very little in the way of a local
autism network. I was lucky enough to
come into contact with Herefordshire
Disability United, an excellent pan-disability organisation, who decided to
devote some time and money to autism. An
event was held bringing together people with autism, parents, providers and
other professionals to try and map what support was available and report from
the day, with a set of recommendations, will now go towards guiding the work of
the Partnership Board. The NAS has also
now opened a branch operating across Herefordshire and
Worcestershire and I have made contact with a user-led group called Aspie Link who are now seeking to get
involved.
These connections and networks are essential to successfully
push forward progress at a local level, especially rural counties like
Herefordshire. For anyone who wants to
Push for Action where they live and start seeing the Autism Strategy make a
difference, build a network, find out who else is active in your area and speak
to us about how we can help you make an impact.
Tom Purser
The NAS' Campaigns Team
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