230 likes | 241 Views
Designing and delivering autism-friendly services for justice professionals in Northern Ireland. Shirelle Stewart National Director National Autistic Society Northern Ireland. The National Autistic Society. A UK wide organisation working in England Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
E N D
Designing and delivering autism-friendly services for justice professionals in Northern Ireland Shirelle Stewart National Director National Autistic Society Northern Ireland
The National Autistic Society • A UK wide organisation working in England Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland • Founded in 1962 in West London by a group of frustrated parents who had been told that their children could not be educated • In 1965 they opened the Sybil Elgar school the first autism specific school in the world. • In 1974 the first specialist service for adults with autism was opened. • 50 years on the National Autistic Society is still run and governed by parents. • It is the largest organisation for people with autistic spectrum disorders in the UK.
Autism Act (NI) • The National Autistic Society Northern Ireland (NAS) supported and consulted with organisations lobbying for the Autism Act • The Autism Act (NI) 2011 received royal assent on the 9th May 2011 • Came into operation on the 9th August 2011. • The Act has two main effects: 1. To amend the Disability Discrimination Act by extending the criteria 2. To produce a cross-departmental autism strategy The Bill was a private members bill sponsored by Dominic Bradley MLA
Developing the Guide for Justice Professionals • NAS sat on the Autism Strategy Project Board and the Implementation Project Board • NAS worked and consulted with different government departments • An action contained within the Autism Strategy and Action Plan to develop a guide to increase awareness of autism amongst criminal justice professionals • NAS had produced an English guide. • NAS reworked the guide in consultation with the DOJ • In 2014 the guide was launched by Minister David Ford, Minister of Justice
Key elements of the guide • Assist all professionals working in the criminal justice system who may come in to contact with a person with autism • Person maybe a victim of crime, a witness, suspect or an offender • Contains real life examples and personal accounts by professionals parents/ carers and people with autism • Not intended to equip criminal justice professionals to diagnose but ... • Help professionals to work with someone they believe to be on the spectrum • Outlines techniques to help you communicate with someone with autism • Guidance on the interview process and on keeping the situation calm http://www.dojni.gov.uk/autism-a-guide-for-criminal-justice-professionals
Support from the DOJ • A senior person within the DOJ was on the Autism Spectrum and pushed the promotion of the guide • The guide circulated via the criminal law committee, the criminal bar association • Article in the Law Society’s Writ • Good feedback from the senior coroner in NI • DOJ and ILP held a conference on Autism and Vulnerable Witness for justice professionals. NAS and an Autistic adult presented at the conference • NAS delivered an awareness session to law students in Queen’s University Belfast • NAS conducted Awareness Training with senior management in Probation Service
Beneficial Partnerships • The NAS reworked the Autism Guide for the DOJ • Helped the DOJ to meet their obligations under the Autism Strategy • The DOJ provided the NAS with legal guidance on crisis management • The NAS works in partnership with government departments and other organisations to increase awareness and understanding of people with autism • The NAS has a very productive and beneficial partnership with the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission • Led to the development of the Stormont Standards and the first ever Autism Access Award
Northern Ireland Assembly Commission • The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission and its Secretariat serve and support the Assembly in its role of representing the interests of the electorate in making effective legislation • Influencing the Executive and holding it to account. • Working continuously to make Parliament Buildings as accessible as possible to as wide a range of people as possible for several years • Major physical works including extensive disability access work in 2005/2006 • Installation of ramps across the front entrance to Parliament Buildings in 2012
Partnership with the Commission • Christine Watts from the Commission contacted the NAS • Meeting to discuss how the Commission could provide autism friendly public services • The NAS consultation group went on a mystery shop/ tour of the Assembly without the Assembly’s knowledge • The group reported back to the NAS on their experience • Discussed the accessibility of the Assembly for people with autism
Developing the Autism Access Award • After the mystery shop the NAS and the Commission met with a group of autistic adults and parents of young people with autism • Listened to their opinions on the visit and their recommendations for any improvements to make the Assembly autism friendly • The National Autistic Society (NAS) explained their existing accreditation process and what they would like for public buildings. • Autism Accreditation was established in 1992. It is an autism-specific quality assurance scheme • The Commission became the first organisation to work with the NAS to formulate an Autism Access Award and to seek accreditation.
Developing the Stormont Standards • The NAS, the Commission and the autism working group worked very hard to develop and deliver a set of standards specifically for public bodies • These standards provided public bodies with the criteria they needed to work towards to achieve the ‘Autism Access Award’. • After lots of negotiation and consultation a set of standards was agreed. These are now called the ‘Stormont Standards’
The Autism Access Award • The Autism Access Award demonstrates that an organisation is committed to being autism-friendly • The award is given to services that have made adjustments so that people with autism, their families and carers, find it easier to visit and use them. • Public services must demonstrate that staff received training so that they can understand and adapt to the needs of people with autism • Services must also demonstrate that they has consulted people with autism, their families and carers and acted on their feedback • In 2011 the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission applied for the Access Award with support from the NAS. • In 2012 the Commission were the first organisation to achieve this Award.
Application Process for the Award • An organisation registers on the NAS Website • Undertakes a self assessment of services using guidance documents on the NAS website • A National Autistic Society consultant completes a bench marking exercise and gap analysis • The consultant creates an action plan to improve autism awareness and to make services/ facilities more accessible to people with autism • The NAS carries out an audit looking at information provided by the service, e.g. policies, procedures, promotional materials website content etc customer feedback • An expert award panel decides which services should receive the Autism Access Award
Fantastic Initiative • The Autism Access Award has been a fantastic initiative • The following organisations have now received the Award: - National Assembly for Wales - Theatre Royal, Newcastle - Scottish Parliament - Parliamentary Headquarters - Royal Air Force Museum London - Queens Park Rangers Football Club. Loftus Road Stadium • Other organisations working towards the award - The Gate restaurant, Islington, London - Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - Inverness Airport - Middlesborough CAB Advocacy Service
Creating Autism Friendly Public Services Christine Watts Environmental Services Manager Northern Ireland Assembly
Key Elements • The partnership we developed with the NAS • Our commitment to that partnership • We were the first organisation to work with the NAS to develop the Stormont Standards and the first ever Autism Access Award • Endorsement and support from the Assembly Commission and Senior Management • Director of Facilities became an Autism Champion • Communicated autism initiatives clearly to staff • Secured staff’s support
Autism Friendly Public Services • In 2011 staff from Building Services Branch and the autism working group developed a plan for providing autism friendly public services • Minor physical changes to the building such as setting up a ‘Quiet Room’ behind the reception area • Specific signage • A video giving an overview of everything involved in visiting the Assembly, including coming through security and the sound of our fire alarm. • A dedicated web page - http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning/autism-and-the-assembly/ • A range of how to guides on the website on how to consult with people with autism on the web page
Autism Friendly Public Services • Autism awareness training rolled out to all front line staff • Staff became Autism Champions. Autism champions are listed on the webpage. • Champions can be contacted directly for help and assistance by people visiting the Assembly.
Organisational Learning • The hardest thing was changing the Northern Ireland Assembly's webpage to make it more accessible for people using the site. • The website, video and regular consultation with NAS and the autism support group took up a great deal of time but worth it! • Concern about getting the staff engaged but 90 frontline staff volunteered for training • 13 trained autism champions including Director of Facilities • Costs were minimal which was important as we had no allocated budget for the work • Listening to and working with people with autism was one of the most important parts of the project • Invite an autism group to your work to ask their opinion – get valuable and honest feedback.
Outcomes • Made the building and our services more accessible to anyone on the spectrum. • Our front line staff /staff in general are more engaged and aware of the types of visitors to the building. • Staff ensure they are as approachable as possible. • Winning the Autism Access Award has been fantastic for the Commission! • I personally enjoy being an autism champion • It will be even better when other places become part of it, such as leisure centres, cinemas, and public transport etc.
Next Steps for the Assembly • The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is always looking at new ways to integrate practices that make Parliament Buildings more accessible • The Northern Ireland Assembly will continue to review, update and improve all of the services that we provide to people on the autistic spectrum • A range of work is planned for the next year so watch this space…
Contact Details Shirelle Stewart Director National Autistic Society Northern Ireland 59 Malone Road Belfast BT9 6SA Tel: 028 9068 7066 Mobile: 07789941239 Email: shirelle.stewart@nas.org.uk Christine Watts Environmental Services Manager Facilities Directorate/Office of The Keeper The Northern Ireland Assembly Belfast, BT4 3XX Tel: 02890 521265 Mobile: 07789757122 Email: Christine.Watts@niassembly.gov.uk