New watchdog for services for autistic people

Ema Cubitt said she was 'honoured' to take on the responsibility

The Department of Health has appointed Northern Ireland's first independent autism reviewer.

Ema Cubitt was selected for the role following a public appointment competition and will take up office in September for a five-year period.

The reviewer's role, which is independent of Stormont departments, will include monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the autism strategy.

It will also include reviewing the adequacy of services provided to autistic people, their families and carers across government departments, public bodies and the health and social care sector.

'Things aren't as they should be'

Mrs Cubitt said she was honoured to take on the responsibility.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme, Mrs Cubitt said she was a mother and a carer in a neuro-divergent family.

"It hasn't been easy. My family is great but out in the world things aren't as they should be," she said.

She described the challenges of getting access to education and the right GP..

"That's really what motivates me and I can personally assure the public that I am wholly invested and dedicated to making changes," she added.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said he understood the importance of this post for autistic people and their families.

"We all have a responsibility and a role to play in ensuring that autistic people and their families can feel understood, accepted, and supported within our communities and in the delivery of our services," he said.

"My department will continue to work in partnership across government departments, the health and social care sector, public bodies and the community and voluntary sector, to make this happen."

The DUP's Pam Cameron (right) led efforts to strengthen support for autistic people

Mrs Cubitt is a law and governance graduate from Ulster University and holds a postgraduate diploma from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen's University, Belfast.

She has worked as a qualified solicitor in both private practice and public service over a period of 15 years.

Over the last three years, Mrs Cubitt has provided unpaid assistance to families and carers facing difficulties accessing support in the areas of social security, education, and employment.

The reviewer post was created as a result of a private members bill taken through the Assembly by the DUP's South Antrim assembly member (MLA) Pam Cameron.

In March 2022, the bill to strengthen support services for young people and adults with autism in Northern Ireland was passed.

The bill put a legal duty on the Department of Health to ensure regionally consistent autism provision and early intervention services.

It amended the 2011 Autism Act and required the establishment of an independent autism reviewer to scrutinise the services in place.

Mrs Cameron said: "The bill's aim was to ensure that the autism community in Northern Ireland have access to improved support and services.

"That will be made possible thanks to the independent scrutiny mechanism that is the autism reviewer."

In April 2023, the head of Autism NI said it was "hugely frustrating" that plans to introduce an autism reviewer in Northern Ireland had stalled.

At the time, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said that, in the absence of an executive, the position could not be filled.

Autism NI said the appointment was the "first of its kind across the UK and Ireland and is a huge step forward for the autism community in Northern Ireland".