Wales Needs Your Help! Stand Up for Autistic Rights

CaptainGingerBeard

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to the Scope community today to ask for your support on a really important issue. As many of you know, 2025 has brought some tough challenges for autistic people. The closure of Autistic Minds was a huge loss, and many are continuing to face setbacks with day-to-day living in Wales.

Back in 2019, the Welsh Government rejected the Autism (Wales) Bill, a piece of legislation that had the potential to dramatically improve the lives of autistic people. This decision has left many of us feeling incredibly let down.

This Bill would have:

• Guaranteed our rights: Enshrined in law our access to vital autism services.
• Improved accountability: Required a clear national autism strategy and guidance for organizations.
• Increased awareness: Mandated a public awareness campaign to promote understanding and acceptance.

The current Code of Practice is a good start, but it lacks the teeth to bring about real change. It doesn't have strong enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance, which leaves autistic people vulnerable.

We can't let this stand! We need to make our voices heard and demand that the Welsh Government reconsider the Autism (Wales) Bill.

Please, take a moment to sign my petition on the Senedd Petitions webpage:

https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246466

Every signature counts. Together, we can make a difference and create a more inclusive Wales for autistic people.

Thank you for your support,

Captain GingerBeard

https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246466

Jimm_Alumni

This looks like a really good cause and I hope you find some success! I just want to check, can only people in Wales sign the petition?

just4once

signed only too happy to help

CaptainGingerBeard

Hi everyone,

I'm writing to you today for your support on my campaign for a new Wales Autism Bill. Some of you may remember my previous Senedd Petition, which was unfortunately rejected by the Petitions Committee.

The Welsh Government's position is that they don't support autism-specific legislation, believing they have enough "legislative levers" to improve services through a Statutory Code of Practice. My campaign is a direct response to this decision.

As an autistic person who has personally experienced the struggles of navigating a system without a strong legal framework, I know this Code of Practice is not enough. Waiting times for a formal diagnosis are unacceptably long—up to 26 months in Cardiff and 46 months in some rural areas. A Code of Practice doesn't have the power to fix this; as a political representative noted, the Code can be "ignored or deliberately misinterpreted by too many in positions of power."

I've taken this campaign to the public on Change.org. I am kindly asking for your help to sign and share the petition with your networks. Every signature adds pressure and demonstrates to the government that the current approach is failing our community.

Thank you for your continued support.

https://chng.it/DnhqbHNw8g