Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet has been awarded its Autism Aware certification after Cabinet Members successfully completed the training scheme.
Councillor Maureen Webber, Deputy Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said: ““I am proud that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet has been the first in Wales to achieve this Autism Aware certification, and thank Autism Wales for the professional training provided to our Cabinet Members.
“It is now our intention to make this valuable training available to all our elected members and Council staff to give everyone a better understanding of the struggles and barriers some autistic people can face.
“I hope that all other local authorities in Wales will follow our lead and also work towards becoming Autism Aware organisations. Together we can help improve the knowledge, awareness and understanding of autism to make positive and lasting changes to people’s lives.”
The accredited Autism Aware training, hosted and created by Autism Wales, aims to raise awareness and understanding of autism and educate public sector organisations, such as Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, on the most up-to-date language, issues and understanding of autism.
The training has been designed by The National Autism Team in collaboration with autistic people, as well as other neurodiverse and neurotypical people, and is now being rolled out to all elected members of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, its Senior Leadership Team and all Council staff.
Autism Wales helps improve the lives of autistic people and their families in Wales. The National Autism Team, which is funded by Welsh Government and hosted by the Welsh Local Government Association, also works in partnership with Public Health Wales, local authorities and health boards across Wales, as well as with key stakeholders and advisory groups.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More than one-in-100 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum.
The Autism Wales website is helping to deliver the Welsh Government autism vision and strategy and has a key place in ensuring that Wales is an autism-friendly nation.
The website contains a wide range of free downloadable resources that have been developed with autistic people, parents/carers and professionals from across Wales.
Visit the Autism Wales website
Posted on 20/02/2023