(UK) York: Council launches support for people with ASD/ADHD; "1 in 7 neurodiverse people"

July 14, 2025, York Council: Strategy launched to support autistic and ADHD people

N. England

City of York Council, in partnership with Humber and North Yorkshire ICB, has unveiled a new draft strategy aimed at improving the lives of autistic people and those with ADHD across the city.

Titled “A City That Works for All”, the five-year plan sets out a vision for a more inclusive, supportive, and understanding York.

This all-age strategy, developed through extensive co-production with neurodivergent residents, families, and local organisations, outlines three key pillars:

Changing Society for Inclusion – Tackling stigma and improving public understanding of neurodiversity

Making Diagnosis and Assessment Work – Reducing waiting times and improving access to timely, effective assessments

Improving Support in Every Setting – Ensuring services in education, employment, housing, and healthcare meet the needs of neurodivergent people

The strategy recognises that barriers in society are often at the root of exclusion and poorer outcomes for autistic people and those with ADHD, and these must be tackled alongside the need to improve health and care services.

It draws on findings from York’s 2025 Health Needs Assessment, which revealed significant gaps in diagnosis, long waiting lists, and high rates of co-occurring mental health conditions.

Councillor Lucy Steels-Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, said:

It’s absolutely vital that services meet everyone’s needs, including the approximately 1 in 7 neurodiverse people living in our city. Consultation on this strategy will ask all organisations, service providers and residents to support us in creating a city in which all neurodiverse people thrive and play an active part. Small changes can often make big differences”.

Michael Ash-McMahon, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Interim Place Director for York, said:

The draft strategy is a welcome step towards creating a City that celebrates neurodiversity and reaffirms the NHS shared commitment to improving diagnosis and tackling long waiting lists for assessment. The ICB and City of York Council are eager to hear what people think of the strategy to ensure the voice of our population is heard and fully understood, before a final version is published later in the year." . . .