14-05-2025
North Wales MS Mark Isherwood shares his weekly update
MS for North Wales
Questioning the First Minister about the accessibility of town centres and outdoor public places for blind and partially sighted people, I referred to correspondence I received from Guide Dogs Cymru stating that 'blind and vision impaired people are rarely consulted on Place Making Plans, in spite of Welsh Government's expectations, and the legal requirement for Equality Impact Assessments to demonstrate accessible and meaningful engagement'.
After also referring to Deaf and hearing loss charity RNID's latest report, 'Still Ignored: The Fight for Accessible Healthcare', which found that 'despite the All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information being introduced more than a decade ago, fewer than 1 in 5 agreed that their information and communication needs are met more often now than a decade ago', I therefore asked whether her Welsh Government will 'introduce, at last, effective monitoring of Wales' accessibility standards for people with sensory loss, involving them in the process'.
Wales is the only UK country without a Deaf Mental Health Service, yet Deaf people are twice as likely to experience a mental health problem as a hearing person.
Responding to the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing's Statement, 'The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy', I therefore asked her why the Strategy does not confirm involvement of the All Wales Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Group.
I also asked her why the Strategy does not categorically state that conditions such as Autism and ADHD are lifelong conditions, not mental health conditions, although they can lead to challenges that increase the risk of mental health issues, and that it is therefore incumbent on Services to establish and adjust to a Neurodivergent person's needs, and stop treating them as the problem.
Senedd engagements included Biodiversity Day event, where I met RSPB Cymru in my role as the Wales Species Champion for the Curlew, and Cross-Party Group on Dementia.
Following MS Awareness Week 2025, I also sponsored an MS Society Cymru 'MS Conversations' event in the Senedd.
Informed by issues raised in both the September 2024 Auditor General for Wales report on Active Travel in Wales and the Welsh Government's Active Travel Board report for 2023-24, the Senedd Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, which I Chair, is undertaking an inquiry into Active Travel.
As part of this, I visited Slovenia with the Committee.
'Active travel' describes everyday journeys made in a physically active way.
Other engagements included the Polish Integration Support Centre (PISC)'s Polish Heritage Day celebration at St. Mary's Cathedral, Wrexham.
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