Scottish Parliament Inquiry

The Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee held an Inquiry into Pathways and Support for Autism and ADHD during the summer and autumn of 2025.

More information about the Inquiry can be found here.

Information about STAND's contribution to the Inquiry can be found below.

Dani Cosgrove's Appearance at the Inquiry

Evidence Session - 30 September 2025

Dani Cosgrove, our COO, gave evidence to the Inquiry on Tuesday 30 September, alongside the National Autistic Society of Scotland, Scottish Autism and the Scottish ADHD Coalition. You can watch it at this link:

Written Submissions to the Inquiry

Follow-Up Letter - 14 October 2025

Dani had been asked an unexpected question when giving evidence at the Inquiry about the "presumption of mainstream" - this is the presumption that children should only be education in schools other than mainstream schools in exceptional circumstances.

STAND's board wrote to the Inquiry with our views on this question.

M Berry STAND Letter to HSCSC.pdf

Follow-Up Letter - 6 October 2025

Dani felt she had more to say than she had time for at the evidence session, so she sent a letter to the Inquiry with further detail about her answers.

STAND to H&SC Committee - Scottish Parliament - Inquiry Autism & ADHD - Follow letter from Dani Cosgrove - 6 October 2025.pdf

The Call for Evidence

The Scottish Parliament recently launched a Call for Evidence to explore why diagnosis and support for autism and ADHD can take so long — and what changes are needed to improve the system.

Although the call for evidence has now closed, STAND was proud to submit a detailed response, reflecting the lived experiences of the families we support. You can read our full submission here.

We’re also delighted to share that our COO, Dani, has been invited to speak directly to the Health and Social Care Committee on 30th September, ensuring the voices of our community are represented at the heart of decision-making.

Stay tuned — we’ll share more updates as this important conversation continues.

STAND Submission - Inquiry - FINAL - 18 August 2025 (2).pdf

STAND's Inquiry Response

STAND's written submission to the Inquiry focussed on issues affecting neurodivergent children and their families, including:

Waiting Times

Issues with lack of transparency, inconsistent terminology, non-recognition of private diagnoses, and long waiting lists. In practice, diagnosis is often a gateway to support.

Waiting Diagnosis and Management

Issues with confusion about assessment pathways, inadequate communication from CAMHS, and a lack of support from healthcare professionals for ongoing management. Specific concerns are raised regarding Speech and Language Therapy, Sleep Support/Melatonin access, and Occupational Therapy.

Impact of Delays

Delays lead to serious consequences, including difficulties in accessing ADHD treatment, inequitable access to social care and Blue Badge schemes, and wider negative impacts on families.

Stigma and Lack of Understanding

There is a pervasive stigma and lack of understanding. This has an impact on clinical decisions, exacerbates health inequalities, and causes harm arising from failure to treat ADHD.

Education and Childcare

Challenges include insufficient training, gatekeeping of health services, inadequate holiday provision, lack of respect for the views of parents and carers, and a lack of transparency in decision-making.

Disabled Parking

Concerns are raised about the requirement for proof of diagnosis and the Code of Practice for Blue Badges, particularly for individuals with "risk in traffic" needs.

LDAN Bill

The Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (Scotland) Bill provides an opportunity to address some of the issues across diagnosis, transport, education, housing, and healthcare.

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