Autism Action Plan Rural Needs Assessment

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Autism Action Plan Rural Needs Assessment

 

SECTION 1 -
Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

 

1A. Name of Public Authority.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

 

1B. Please provide a short title which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.

Council is working to adopt and put in place an Autism Action Plan to make the council more Autism friendly.  The aim of the action plan is to create better opportunities for autistic people and to make those opportunities more accessible.


 

1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to.

Developing and implementing a plan and delivering a Public Service            

 

1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above.

Autism Action Plan 2022/23

 

1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.

Aims

  • To identify current baseline for autism actions in CCGBC. 
  • To deliver comprehensive awareness training for frontline staff.
  • To eliminate barriers, increase and improve access to services / leisure activities promoting social inclusion.
  • To implement inclusive communication for people with autism.

 

1F. What definition of ‘rural’ is the Public Authority using in respect of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?

Population Settlements of less than 5,000 (Default definition).
 

Details of alternative definition of ‘rural’ used.   N/A

Rationale for using alternative definition of ‘rural’.   N/A

Reasons why a definition of ‘rural’ is not applicable.   N/A

 

SECTION 2 -
Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

 

2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas?

Yes                   If the response is NO GO TO Section 2E.

 

2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.

The action plan will impact on individuals from rural and urban areas who wish to avail of council services.  These services will be autism friendly and support individuals from both areas to exercise and socialise in council leisure facilities.  In addition, it is hoped that these supportive measures will encourage individuals to exercise more and access new rural and urban areas / places safely.

 

2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.

Currently there is less provision for individuals in rural areas to exercise as country roads do not have street lighting or accessible footpaths due to the landscape.  The action plan will support individuals to exercise at council leisure facilities in rural areas due to the support now put in place.

 

2D. Please indicate which of the following rural policy areas the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to primarily impact on.

Access to Leisure

If the response to Section 2A was YES GO TO Section 3A.

 

 

2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas.

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SECTION 3 -
Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

 

3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?

Yes           If the response is NO GO TO Section 3E.

 

3B. Please indicate which of the following methods or information sources were used by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

Consulatation with stakeholders

Published Statistics

Consultation with other organisations

Other Publications

Other Methods or Information Sources

 

3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc.

In drafting the autism action plan consultation meetings were held with:

  • Statutory Bodies
  • Local CCGBC Community Groups, Causeway Neurodiversity Group born from the newly established Primary Practice Multi-Disciplinary Team notably the Social Work team.
  • CCGBC Autism Representatives liaised with focus groups and engaged with lived experience parents, carers and adults from autistic families in both urban and rural areas.

The focus groups were held in various rural areas to ensure the widest catchment of opinions and needs from rural dwellers themselves.

In addition, the social and economic needs of people in rural areas were identified by using public statistics from the NI census along with the voices of local representatives.

The action plan was then developed using, best practice guidelines, website research on Autism NI and advice from the Northern and Western Area Autism Forums and Autism NI alongside legislative conditions as outlined in:

  • The first Northern Ireland Autism Strategy 2013-2020 published in 2014
  • Autism Amendment Act (2022) which received Royal Ascent in April 2022

 

3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority?

Socially individuals from rural areas tend to have to travel longer distances to exercise or socialize. Travel infrastructure in rural areas is often limited and ad hoc; therefore, individuals must either wait for the next bus or drive. This in turn adds an increased financial impact. 

In rural areas individuals with autism find it more difficult to socialize as their needs may not be supported.  In part, this is due to lack of autism awareness in others, however individuals with autism often experience additional social barriers inherent with autism.  These inherent barriers can impact on their communication, are themselves triggered by the environment, noise, lighting etc.  Therefore, on occasion communication needs may also create additional transportation barriers for individuals with autism.

Autistic individuals may or may not be in work and this may mean that they are economically disadvantaged so, the need to travel to exercise may add additional economic burdens on the individuals.  This is why it is important to provide a service in their rural area which supports their individual needs.

If the response to Section 3A was YES GO TO Section 4A.

 

 

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?

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SECTION 4 -
Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

 

4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

Research by the economic development section for its strategy highlighted that socially individuals in rural areas may feel more isolated, therefore supporting individuals to access leisure facilities which meet their individual needs may reduce this isolation.

The need for good infrastructure is also essential as individuals in rural areas may rely on public transport.

In addition, individuals with autism need to have a leisure facility in their rural locality to reduce the economic burden of travelling to an urban area to exercise and socialise with others.

 

SECTION 5 -
Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

 

5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?

Yes       If the response is NO GO TO Section 5C.

 

5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified.

Leisure services have taken account of the needs of people in rural areas by putting in place and making available a multi-site access membership.  This provides rural dwellers with access to local and centralized leisure services. 

Clients from rural areas have access to Tier 1 and Tier 2 (local) Leisure Facilities.  This is especially important/relevant in the current economic climate.

The multi-access membership provides rural dwellers with the opportunity to access all types of leisure facilities both locally and further afield. 

The newly established Thrive Membership offers rural dwellers the economic benefit of a family membership at a competitive and economic rate.

If the response to Section 5A was YES GO TO Section 6A.

 

5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified.

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SECTION 6 -
Documenting and Recording

 

6A. Please tick below to confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained by the Public Authority and relevant information on the Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.

 

I confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained and relevant information compiled.  

 

Rural Needs Impact Assessment undertaken by:    Autism Co-ordinator

Division/Branch    Leisure & Development

Date:   11 October 2022

 

Rural Needs Impact Assessment approved by:   Head of Sport & Wellbeing

Division/Branch    Leisure & Development

Date:   07/06/2023