NEURODIVERSITY AND THE CITY HALL CONSERVATIVES
The City Hall Conservatives have long been keen advocates for neurodiversity. Below is an excellent summary from London Assembly Member Andrew Boff of some of the actions which have been taken to promote Neurodiversity in London and put it strongly on the Mayor’s agenda. As ever, inspiring work from our GLA Conservatives.
The Full Spectrum Report
· In September 2019, Andrew Boff published the report “The Full Spectrum: Making London Autism Friendly”[1] The report was endorsed by key groups such as the National Autistic Society and Autistica.
· The report made the following 5 key recommendations to the Mayor:
o Promote the National Autistic Society’s Autism Friendly Award across London; to push businesses to become autism friendly around London and help autistic people access services more easily.
o Introduce mandatory autism awareness training for all roles within the GLA group; not just public facing roles. This includes the Metropolitan Police, TfL and the London Fire Brigade to increase understanding of autism and the issues autistic people face.
o Take a lead on a joined-up, multiagency approach to making London autism friendly. Working with Borough Councils, CCGs, charities and businesses to ensure that London is an environment where service providers are able to deliver the necessary support. This should be underpinned by an all-age London-wide autism strategy
o Amend his strategies where necessary to include specific provision for autistic people. The Mayor’s Health Inequalities Strategy and London Plan in particular make no mention of autism. Specifically referencing autism could help to highlight the issues autistic people face and work towards alleviating them.
o Work to introduce a platform where the autistic community in London can locate autism friendly businesses and facilities. These could be places with an autism friendly award or nominated as an autism champion. The Mayor could work with existing platforms or create a new one.
· Our most recent written question to the Mayor with regards to that report, chasing up on what he has done to action the recommendations in the report was asked on in March 2021. The Mayor gave the below answer:[2]
“At the time of the report, I acknowledged my commitment to reducing inequalities for neuro-diverse and autistic people in London. Our work to make London more Autism-Friendly link to the report’s five themes as follows:
· Improving accessibility — inclusive design principles integrated into planning policies in my newly published London Plan will ensure the built environment is safe and accessible for those with autism.
· Community awareness and understanding — the Young Londoners fund, Team London grants and Culture Seeds grants have supported organisations to run projects for those with autism.
· Support — Frontline organisations supporting people with autism have received grants through the London Community Response Fund which I contributed over £11m to provide direct support Londoners most in need.
· Employment Support — Skills for Londoners Innovation Fund widening participation to education and skills for groups including people on the autistic spectrum.
· Working together — we engage with charities including the National Autistic Society, MENCAP and Leonard Cheshire Disability to inform our policies and programmes.”
Motion & Mayor’s Response
· In February 2020, just before the first lockdown, the London Assembly unanimously passed a cross-party motion calling on the Mayor to publish a London-wide autism strategy. Motion below:
“Autism is a hugely diverse and complex disability that affects thousands of people across London. It is currently estimated that there are around 88,000 autistic people living in London as well as the much wider group of people who live with, work with or come into contact with autistic people every day. Autism sits under the umbrella of neurodiversity. It is estimated that 10% of the population are neurodivergent. Despite this, autistic people and other neurodivergent people still face massive hurdles and health inequalities in their daily lives.
This Assembly notes the disproportionate challenges autistic people face, with research suggesting only 16% of autistic adults are in full-time paid work, over 50% of autistic people avoid public transport due to fears of disruption and 79% of autistic people feel socially isolated.
This Assembly believes that London should be a place for everyone and the Mayor should do all he can to tear down the unacceptable barriers and health inequalities faced by autistic people and other neurodivergent people across our city.
This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to develop an all-age London-wide autism strategy to be included within his Health Inequalities Strategy, working with Borough Councils, CCGs and others setting out how the right services and support will be provided, that all relevant professionals have the right level of autism understanding, and that our city is accessible to autistic people and open to neurodiversity.”
· On 1st May 2020, the Mayor of London responded to the London Assembly with the below[3]
“I welcome increasing awareness of the needs of neurodiverse and autistic people in London. As you know, I am committed to reducing inequalities for this group.
Making London a more inclusive city for those on the autistic spectrum requires action across a range of different areas. Making London’s transport system more accessible, closing the disability employment gap, and creating inclusive places and spaces through inclusive design are priorities being pursued through a number of my strategies that will benefit neurodiverse and autistic Londoners, as well as those with other conditions and impairments. Officers from my Health and Equality and Fairness teams met with the National Autistic Society on 12 March to hear more about city-wide approaches to supporting equality for people on the autistic spectrum. We look forward to a continued dialogue as we learn more about how good practice can be applied in London.”
· Since then there has been no London-wide autism strategy and there is still no specific mention of autism or neurodiversity in the Mayor’s Health inequality Strategy or implementation plan.
· This is despite an updated implementation plan[4] with commitments[5] being published for 2021–2024.
Disability Employment Taskforce
· In 2019, the Economy Committee supported the Social Market Foundation and Trust for London’s call for the Mayor to constitute a Disability Employment Taskforce.[6]
· This recommendation was published in the committee’s March 2019 report “Tackling London’s Disability Employment Gap”. It is also an issue which several Assembly Members from different groups have raised at Mayor’s Question Time meetings.
· Both Susan Hall AM and former AM, Gareth Bacon MP have published group reports calling on the Mayor to set this up.
· The Taskforce would act as a centre of expertise and knowledge sharing, driving and stimulating actions to support disabled people into work and progress while in work. To date, a Disability Employment Taskforce has not been set up.
· In 2022, Neil Garratt AM wrote to the Mayor about this as Chair of the Economy committee.
· It is clear this concept has cross-party support and members continue to raise this issue with the Mayor.
Neurodiversity in Business
· On 19th May 2022, Andrew Boff AM asked the Mayor the following question on behalf of Neurodiversity in Business who we had been working with:
“Will you work with businesses and experts in the field to ensure London leads the way on being Neurodiversity friendly?”
· As a result of this questioning the Mayor agreed to meet with the organisation.[7]
· By July 2022, Neurodiversity in Business let us know that this meeting had not taken place yet so Andrew Boff AM asked the following question at the July 2022 Mayor’s question time:
“Mr Mayor, as you know, Neurodiversity in Business is an organisation that is actively looking to address the employment prospects of autistic and other neurodiverse Londoners. Back in May [2022] I asked you to meet them, and you expressed some enthusiasm to do so. They have yet to hear from your office and I wonder when that will be rectified.”
· The Mayor gave the following reply:[8]
“Chair, let me follow that up. I do apologise, through you, to them. Can I follow that up and get back to you and them today to let you know when we are going to meet? Even if it is not soon, we need a date in the diary today. Is that OK?”
· In October 2022, the Mayor finally met with Neurodiversity in business.[9]
· And in January 2023, the Mayor and Neurodiversity in Business released a video where he said “I’m committed to harnessing the thinking and talent of all Londoners to build a better London “. And “I’m proud to team up with NiB, not only in calling for our businesses to join us and create a more neuro inclusive London but in striving to make our city the neuro inclusive capital of the world.”[10]
[1] https://www.glaconservatives.co.uk/_files/ugd/047866_e208b5eeb1364a3e988214f47016fe93.pdf
[2] https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2021/1216
[3] https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/response_from_mayor_to_motion.pdf
[4] https://www.london.gov.uk/publications/health-inequalities-strategy-implementation-plan-2021-24
[6] Tackling London’s Disability Employment Gap, London Assembly Economy Committee, March 2019
[9] https://employernews.co.uk/news/neurodiversity-in-business-meets-with-mayor-of-london-sadiq-khan/
