2. Developing Well
All Rotherham’s autistic children and young people start school ready to learn for life
Vision
Whilst tackling inequalities in health needs focused action from the start of life and in the early years, the commitment needs to be maintained throughout childhood and adolescence. Good education and healthcare, and opportunities for good work and training are needed in order to support young people with autism to thrive.
How will we get there?
Promoting healthy lifestyles for children and young people with autism
- Ensuring we identify health inequalities and address areas adding to future implementation plan for the autism strategy – Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) does capture this data. A SEND JSNA is being developed.
- National screening programmes take-up
- Annual health checks take-up and quality of the health checks.
- Ensure that children and young people are participating in the 5 ways to wellbeing campaign – accessible information and promotion.
Ensuring that the mental health needs (including Suicide prevention) for autistic children and young people are met
1 in 4 Autistic young people are prone to mental health problems – if they don’t have the right support. Affective disorders such as depression and anxiety are the most common co-morbid secondary psychiatric disorders.
We will ensure that Rotherham’s suicide prevention program includes autistic people