Plan aims to help neurodiverse people 'thrive'

Health and Social Services Minister Tom Binet said more needed to be done for those who required support

A plan aiming to make Jersey "more inclusive" and help people with neurodiverse conditions has been unveiled.

The first Neuroinclusive Jersey Strategy, covering the 2025-2028 period, has been published by the government and Autism Jersey.

Several areas including healthcare, education and the criminal justice system have been highlighted as priorities within the strategy as it aimed to "create a place in which everyone can prosper".

Health and Social Services Minister Tom Binet said awareness of neurodiverse conditions such as autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) had grown in recent years, but more needed to be done for those who required support.

"It is essential that we take actions to go beyond general awareness, to create a community that enables everyone within it to thrive, to actively participate and contribute their strengths and to experience the best life that they can," Binet said.

The government said the strategy was created after information from more than 500 people, which included those with neurodiverse conditions and their carers, was collected.

Actions suggested in the plan include improving the pre and post-assessment and diagnostic experience for patients, reviewing employments laws to determine if they could be strengthened and delivering more neurodiversity awareness training.

Chris Dunne, chief executive of Autism Jersey, said: "This will help to shape a future that will make the lives of autistic individuals and their families better.​"​

A steering group made up of people with neurodiversity experience and charity workers would be responsible for ensuring the actions are delivered, the government added.