Statement on the Assessment of Need Reforms

AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism charity, acknowledges today’s announcement from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on proposed Heads of Bill concerning amendments to the Disability Act of 2005, relating to the Assessment of Needs Process. Today’s statement from the Department focuses on “targeted reforms to improve the Assessment of Need process for children and their families” and will be followed by a Pre-Legislative Scrutiny process which will enable disabled people and their organisations to ensure our lived experience is centred in any proposed reforms.

From our initial engagement today, we welcome assurances that there will be no change to the right to access an assessment of need, or to the statutory timeline of 6 months. The Assessment of Needs process in its current form is failing many families across the State, which is evident in the high volume of waiting lists and a systemic failure in assessing children within the timelines set down in the law. Any new reform must ensure timely access to autism assessment and follow-up supports for children in our community.

AsIAm looks forward to engaging with this important process in ensuring a quality and robust Autism assessment procedure is established and to protect the status of an Autism diagnosis.  

Over the coming weeks, we will be engaging in this process, and we will keep our community members informed on key aspects.  

To read the announcement in full please click here

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