Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Embrace Autism report, An Evaluation of Autistic-Led and Designed Pre- and Post-Diagnostic Support for Autistic Adults, including what action it is taking in response to the recommendation that (a) pre- and post-diagnostic support programmes are designed and delivered by autistic professionals and (b) professional autistic-led and designed pre- and post-diagnostic support is made more widely accessible across the country.
The Scottish Government welcomes the Embrace Autism report and work of the Embrace Autism programme, funded through the Scottish Government’s Autistic Adult Support Fund (AASF).
Through our AASF, the Scottish Government will continue to support organisations to deliver pre- and post-diagnostic support programmes designed and delivered by autistic people.
We have committed to multi-year funding of the AASF, which will avoid gaps in the provision of support programmes and will allow for funded organisations to better plan and deliver for the future. We will provide funding of £1 million per year.
Within the design of the AASF we prioritised the voice of lived experience, as the criteria we set out ensured organisations meaningfully involved autistic people in the development, design and delivery of their programmes.
The Autistic Adult Support Fund includes a range of national and local organisations providing different types of support. This includes in-person and virtual peer support groups, drop in sessions, one to one support and short term counselling.