Jersey sees first 'neuroinclusive strategy' published

The government is taking the first steps towards improving the health and well-being of neurodiverse islanders.

A three-year strategy has been published, exploring different ways to make living in Jersey easier for people with autism and ADHD.

Seven key areas have been highlighted, ranging from health to education, and housing to employment.

During a consultation with neurodiverse islanders, their family, friends and carers and the wider community, the main concern was diagnosis and assessments.

CEO of Autism Jersey, Chris Dunne, says there were quite a few areas of concern that are being tackled.

"I would hope and expect that in the next three years, we will see a significant benefit [for the community].

"The more we can get out to all organisations raising awareness of autism [and ADHD], raising an understanding by delivering training at different levels.

"There has been, historically, a significant waiting list for children and adults to get access to assessment and diagnosis for autism and ADHD, so within the strategy, there are a number of actions we are hoping to take over the next three years that will improve those things that are of most concern."

The government has committed itself to understanding neurodiversity and how training across the board can help raise awareness for neurodivergence and how building a more inclusive society can help islanders 'thrive and contribute their unique strengths'.

Healthcare

In healthcare, the government will be addressing the needs of neurodivergent people through better training for healthcare professionals to increase awareness and understanding.

It believes early and accurate identification of conditions, including ADHD and ASD, is a must to reduce delays and barriers and improve access to assessment and diagnosis.

There will also be better access to specialised mental health services that address specific needs.

Employment

The government has committed itself to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for islanders and employers alike.

It wants to increase training across all levels of the employee 'lifecycle' as well as provide bosses with more guidance and resources.

Chris Dunne says not every issue will cost money to fix, such as an employment toolkit for the recruitment process.

"We have standard processes like CVs, application forms and interviews.

"If you're an individual with autism and you struggle with eye contact, that can be a real problem in an interview, so we have to do things differently."

Education

The current education system is going to change to better meet the needs of neurodiverse students across all schools and educational settings.

The government recognises that students with dyslexia, ASD and ADHD are often given inadequate support, which results in poorer outcomes.

More training aims to promote and develop teachers' and staff's skills to help students with their conditions and help to reduce the exclusion rate.

Another way is to introduce flexible learning approaches that blend learning models (e.g. home, classroom and community) to reduce anxiety.