Neurodiverse residents in Liverpool have been promised quicker access to diagnosis and additional care through a recently launched council-run strategy.
Among the priorities are a focus on early identification and diagnosis, needs-led support, accessible health and care, and what the council is calling ‘the right to a fulfilling life’.
The proposed strategy is a collaborative effort that will function based off the suggestions of neurodiverse residents within the Merseyside area, who have listed these factors as the priorities of better care.
Residents living with neurodiversity lent their voices to the development of the strategy last November, when it was first announced.
But whether the care will be delivered is yet to be seen.
Charlie Williams, a recent LMA graduate who lives with dyslexia and dyspraxia, said: “it took 10 years to get diagnosed properly with dyspraxia and we really had to push for it, and although diagnosis can take a while, giving a neurodiverse child constantly changing and inconsistent answers to what they have can be quite distressing.
“I think a lot of what I’d like to see is finally happening, there are a lot more services available to people prone to sensory overloads and other lesser-known symptoms for many neurodiverse people.
“I’m hopeful for the strategy because it has listened to the voices of neurodiverse people, and people moving forward may not have to wait as long as I did to receive their diagnosis.
“But I am concerned that these will be empty words and that the promises may not be delivered.”
Anthony Leo, Acting Place Director for Liverpool at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “By working in partnership with local organisations, communities and people with lived experience, we are committed to improving access to services, reducing inequalities, and ensuring care is more responsive, inclusive and person-centred.”
Councillor Angela Coleman, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “This strategy has been shaped by the voices of neurodivergent people and their families, and it sets out a clear vision for change.
“This is an important step forward, aligned with wider work across Cheshire and Merseyside, and we are grateful to everyone who has contributed.”
Led by the Liverpool Neurodiversity Strategic Partnership (LNSP), the aims to improve the lives of over 70,000 neurodiverse residents in the city. Residents who wish to lend their voice this strategy can do so here.
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(Featured image by Peter Burdon.)
