BPS supports move to neuroaffirming approach in Scotland

The society supports the government's commitment to a social model of disability and its aim to remove the barriers that 'isolate, exclude and so disable the individual'.

In its written response to the consultation on the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill, the BPS applauds the adoption of an inclusion and human rights-based approach, as well as the key contribution of people with lived experience in developing the government's consultation document. 

However, the society points to the need for sufficient staff, resources and training to ensure the bill's vision can become a reality. 

Alison Clark, chair of the task and finish group set up to develop the society's consultation response, said: 

"This consultation offers us a valuable opportunity to inform the future of service delivery for those with a learning disability, autism or neurodiversity, and to highlight the contribution that psychology can make in the delivering these services. We welcome the move to a neuroaffirming society, which recognises the range of neurodivergent conditions in addition to autism and learning disability.

"But having enough funding and the right staff in place will be key to ensuring services can become more accessible, tailored and person-centred."

The BPS believes that, for the purposes of the bill, neurodivergence should be defined by reference to common barriers or behaviours faced, which means that a person does not necessarily require a diagnosis to receive support. 

This is of particular importance given the current workforce capacity challenges around receiving a diagnosis, and the fact that people can present differently even with the same diagnosis, or have more than one neurodivergent condition at a time. 

In its consultation response, the BPS highlights a number of issues related to service design and delivery. This includes calling for the bill to explicitly address transitions to adulthood, for the proposed mandatory training in LDAN for the public sector to be psychologically informed and an opt-out approach to independent advocacy, to better ensure those who would like support in having their voice heard when interacting with services have access to this.

Read the full written response