How many boys and girls in Wales are diagnosed with autism, and what are Welsh Government projections for autism diagnoses for children in future?
The Welsh Government does not collect data on the numbers of children diagnosed with autism, but does collect data on the number of pupils with different types of additional needs, including autism via the Pupil Level Annual School Census. It is difficult to determine prevalence of autism as highlighted in the recently published Demand, Design and Capacity Review of Neurodevelopmental Services this indicates an estimate of 1-2% of the population.
On 6 July 2022 I published a Written Statement in response to this review announcing a service improvement programme backed by £12m of funding. This will include action on access to assessment services, family support and a focus on data collection and monitoring.