SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, wants more to be done to speed up assessments and diagnosis for children suffering from ADHD and Autism.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands said questioned whether the current system for assessing and supporting children with this issue was working.
He said: “I would like to request a statement from the Welsh Government on an issue that is affecting far too many people, and that is how we’re assessing and supporting children with ADHD and autism, and whether the current system is really working for the families who should be relying on it.
“Far too often, I hear from parents who are deeply worried about their children, and, far too often, those concerns are met with long waiting times, of up to seven years in North Wales, unclear processes, or children being told to just cope without any proper diagnosis or support in place.
“We all know that early intervention can make a world of difference not just academically, but for a child’s confidence, well-being and future, but we can’t intervene properly if those early assessments are not taking place.
“In the meantime, pupils are being misunderstood, teachers are under pressure and parents are left feeling helpless.
“I would like to have an update to the Senedd, on what is being done to speed up those assessments, how the ALN system is working in practice for children who haven’t yet had a formal diagnosis, and how we’re making sure that schools have the training and resources they need to support those pupils day-to-day.”
