Statements & External Mentions
Press Releases
ADPO Joint Manifesto
In Partnership with AMASE, ARGH Scotland, AVATAR, and Aurora Consulting, we published our own manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Elections, advocating for the rights of and support for Autistics in Scotland to be explicitly included in policies.
Learning Places Scotland Conference
SEMA contributed to the Scottish Learning Places Conference in autumn 2024, alongside Fergus Murray from AMASE and Marion McLaughlin, a former teacher from Aurora Autistic Consulting, bringing SEMA’s perspective on racialised neurodivergent learners into a national education forum. We discussed the impact of inappropriate and unaccommodating to the learning for and wellbeing of neurodivergent young people.
Survey Narrative Final
SEMA collaborated with ARGH Scotland and AMASE to survey and produce a report on the experiences of Scottish Autistics regarding Education, Employment and Justice. Although this report offers a glimpse of the issues we face, it makes a strong case for further in-depth investigation to shape policy and practice. It was written in response to the EHRCJ Committee Inquiry into Neurodiversity, where evidence was also provided along with AVATAR & Aurora Autistic Consulting.
Advocacy Against the Closure of Autism Assessment Pathways
Working with several Autistic advocates and Autistic People’s Organisations, SEMA engaged in public advocacy against the closure of autism assessment pathways, ensuring that racialised Autistic people, who already face disproportionate delays and barriers to diagnosis, were not further disadvantaged by the reduction of available assessment routes.
We cannot emphasise enough how hard we need to fight to protect our basic human rights.
Read the letter to understand why it is important we protect adult autism assessment pathways. The impact of denying us a means to gain support- whether that is education, empowerment, justice, or much needed financial benefits.
We already hear how Black, Brown or Asian Autistics or AuDHDers are denied even the consideration of a referral by biassed, uninformed GPs/ psychiatrists. The stories are shocking but not surprising. Instead of fixing this, Scottish healthcare is going in the opposite direction!
We thank Marion from Aurora Autistic Consulting and Felicity from Flappy Inky Feathers for being the public lead in this campaign and for their several media interviews highlighting this serious issue.
We already hear how Black, Brown or Asian Autistics or AuDHDers are denied even the consideration of a referral by bias, uninformed GPs/ psychiatrists. The stories are shocking but not surprising. Instead of fixing this, Scottish healthcare is going in the opposite direction!
A Commission, Commissioner, or None?
The Commissions and Commissioners: Final Report explores the proposal for a Learning Disability, Autism, and Neurodiversity Commissioner. In 2024, Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA), alongside Autism Understanding Scotland, expressed concerns about creating a new commissioner. SEMA emphasised the need for further understanding of autistic people’s needs and advocated for utilizing existing mechanisms and resources to address rights, rather than duplicating efforts with new structures.
Health and Care Magazine invited us to contribute our thoughts with our partners.
Statement Commissions and commissioners: final report
https://www.gov.scot/publications/role-commissions-commissioners-scotland-uk-final-report-march-2023/
Statement Commissions and commissioners: final report
The Commissions and Commissioners: Final Report explores the proposal for a Learning Disability, Autism, and Neurodiversity Commissioner. In 2024, Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA), alongside Autism Understanding Scotland, expressed concerns about creating a new commissioner. SEMA emphasised the need for further understanding of autistic people’s needs and advocated for utilizing existing mechanisms and resources to address rights, rather than duplicating efforts with new structures.
Recognition
National Diversity Awards
2024 finalist
Community Organisation Award: Race, Religion & Faith
Podcasts Episodes
Community Impact and Peer Support
Beyond our institutional and policy work, SEMA’s impact is felt most directly in the lives of individuals who have never before had access to culturally relevant autism support. We have identified and supported struggling adults who questioned whether they were Autistic, guiding them through the assessment process. We have provided one-to-one consultations in Urdu with South Asian parents navigating the challenges of supporting Autistic teenagers. Through community group training delivered across central Scotland, we have meaningfully reduced the stigma around the label of autism in communities where it remains deeply misunderstood.
SEMA has delivered in-person seminars in Stirling for madrasah volunteers and carers, including the first translation of sensory difference and Autistic experience information into Urdu for participants in that setting. We have also delivered community training for NKS Edinburgh, a South Asian family group, following which several women self-identified as Autistic and sought further advice for their children.
SEMA runs a peer support WhatsApp group for adult Autistics, including those who are late identified. We also facilitate a carers support group where carers can bring questions directly to Autistic adults. Our community training, delivered in Urdu, continues to reach families who would otherwise have no access to autism information in their own language.
Contact and Verification
For verification of the evidence contained in this document, the following contact is provided:
Sally Cavers
Funding Manager, Inspiring Scotland
sally@inspiringscotland.org.uk
Social Media Handles
- Website: www.sema.scot
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sema.scot/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SEMA.Scot/
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sema-scot
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SEMA_Scot
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/semascot.bsky.social
