West Yorkshire neurodiversity priorities

The term neurodiversity refers to the way that everyone’s brains naturally work differently from one another, embraces differences and the diversity of the human population.

Neurodivergence is the term for when someone's brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is considered 'typical'.

Our priorities for the year 2024/25 are:

Aim to deliver a more consistent West Yorkshire approach to ‘Right to Choose/Patient Choice’ for Autism and ADHD
Aim to deliver improved West Yorkshire-wide data on Autism and ADHD
Aim to connect places to share learning and good practice in relation to improving assessment pathways and advocate for what places need
Aim to deliver specific projects in relation to Autism in Schools (AIS) and Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS)

We try to align the West Yorkshire and Place plans to avoid duplication and invest our capacity and energy in to areas that are agreed to work on collectively and collaboratively together.

Autism Act 2009

The Autism Act 2009 was the first disability-specific piece of legislation in England. Over the decade since its inception, it has resulted in improvements in support for autistic adults across the country, and greater awareness of autism in society. However, we know that more still needs to be done to improve autistic people’s lives. You can read the national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults 2021 - 2026 and the Autism strategy implementation plan: 2021 to 2022 (Annex A) (publishing.service.gov.uk). There is also an EasyRead version available.

West Yorkshire neurodiversity priorities

National strategies

Autism Act 2009

Accessibility tools