Why we must Act Now to introduce the LDAN Bill as soon as possible

• Written by: Morton Dunlop — The National Autistic Society Scotland — External Affairs Manager
• Published: 10th March 2026

Act Now for Autistic Rights calls for a transformative Bill for autistic and neurodiverse communities

In January, we launched our Act Now for Autistic Rights campaign for the upcoming Holyrood election, a campaign which is dedicated to a single issue: the introduction of the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill as soon as possible.

We have dedicated our campaign to securing the introduction of this Bill as a reflection of the profound impact it can have in improving outcomes, inclusion and opportunities for autistic people and their families.

The Scottish Government originally committed to LDAN in its 2021-22 Programme for Government before engaging in a period of extensive consultation. Panels representing stakeholders, practitioners, and those with lived experience were convened and a call for views on the bill garnered a total of 877 responses.

Many ALLIANCE members will have played an active and ongoing role in the development of LDAN and will have shared our disappointment at the decision not to take the Bill forward this term. Our campaign calls on all parties to commit to the introduction of LDAN to ensure everyone who shared often difficult experiences in the hopes their testimony would lead to real and lasting change that they remain a priority and haven’t been forgotten.

In the last five years, the need for the LDAN Bill has only grown more urgent. A welcome increase in autism awareness has led to a level of demand for autism assessment and diagnosis which is not being met. In too many cases, autistic people are having to wait years to receive a diagnosis.

The number of pupils requiring Additional Support Needs (ASN) has reached a record level of 43% and many children and young people are being left to struggle in classrooms ill-suited to their needs, or not able to participate in their education through part-time timetabling or informal exclusions.

Elsewhere, autistic people can be institutionalised in care settings, far from the local support networks they need and in breach of their right to independent living. Autistic people also experience significantly worse health outcomes than the general population, with notably lower life expectancy and suicide being the second most common cause of early death.

Much of what has been outlined above are also serious issues experienced by others in the neurodiverse community. We cannot afford to wait any longer for change. The LDAN Bill can provide a framework for the neurodiverse community’s rights to be respected, promoted and upheld.

LDAN has the potential to deliver tangible improvements across education, healthcare, criminal justice, and employment. It is a Bill which can:

• Build a national picture of need through consistent data collection, and to bring about the partnership working necessary to address the backlog through legally binding national and local strategies.
• Implement mandatory training in health, social care and education settings so people’s needs can be identified, ensuring services are fully inclusive and providing timely access to support before a crisis point is reached.
• Address what is a glaring lack of accountability in the public services meant to support autistic people, and which can begin to resolve the gaps between the Government’s policy intention, and the reality autistic people face.

‘Act Now for Autistic Rights’ is our call to bring about lasting and systemic change for the neurodiverse community, and ALLIANCE members have an important role in delivering this. You can:

• Advocate for the LDAN Bill in your own engagement with policymakers – you can read NAS Scotland’s manifesto for more information here.
• Taking a moment to participate in and share our e-action, which calls on all party leaders to commit to introducing the LDAN Bill as soon as possible.
• Visit our campaign webpage and watch a series of videos in which our autistic campaigners highlight the need for change in their own words.
• Contact Morton.dunlop@nas.org.uk if you would like to chat more about any opportunities for engagement or collaboration in our campaign.

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