Some Autistic people can have:

• other health conditions
• issues with their mental health.

It is important for health and mental health care services to:

• understand autism
• work together to give good support
• have supports for adults and children.

But it can still be hard for Autistic people to get the care they need.

This can also mean some Autistic people get the wrong support.

This can happen because people don’t understand:

• what autism is
• the way Autistic people communicate.

It can also put Autistic people at risk in an emergency.

An emergency:

• is a dangerous situation
• is a thing we don’t expect to happen
• can put our health and safety at risk.

For example, if the staff in a hospital’s emergency department don’t understand autism, they might:

• take a long time to understand what care an Autistic person needs

• give an Autistic person the wrong health care.

We will work with health professionals to make sure they understand more about autism.

This includes:

• doctors
• hospital staff
• ambulance drivers.

We will make it easier for Autistic people to use health and mental health care services.

We will also make health and mental health care services more accessible.

This includes in places far away from cities and towns.