This year, City of York Council and Humber and North Yorkshire ICB rolled out a groundbreaking new draft strategy, ‘A City That Works for All’, which is designed to support local individuals and families living with Autism and ADHD. The draft aims to improve quality of life, boost social support, tackle outdated stigma, and boost inclusivity in our city.
According to York’s 2025 Health Needs Asssessment, a total of 2,786 locals live with autism (this data was recorded summer 2024), however, it’s worth noting that these figures only account for diagnosed people registered with a local GP, with many more local residents going undiagnosed – in the UK, it’s estimated that around 59%-72% of people with autism do not have a diagnosis. With approximately 1 in 7 York residents estimated to fall within the neurodiversity bracket, it’s essential that we work towards improving outcomes and inclusivity in our city.
Developed in direct consultation with neurodiverse people based in our region, the new five-year plan aims to accelerate diagnosis times, simplify diagnosis pathways, and ensure that neurodiverse individuals of all ages can feel valued and supported in York, whatever struggles they may face in their everyday lives.
To learn more about the five-year strategy, visit www.york.gov.uk/news/article/1723/strategy-launched-to-support-autistic-and-adhd-people-. To read the draft in its entirety, head over to www.york.gov.uk and search for ‘A City That Works for All’. If you or your family need further support relating to autism or ADHD, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/support/, www.autism.org.uk, or www.adhduk.co.uk today.
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