A new action plan has been published setting out the next steps towards making the Isle of Man more autism-friendly.

The government initiative marks the third phase of work to implement the Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) Strategy 2024-2034, a 10-year plan aimed at improving the lives of autistic people and their families.

Phase three will run from October 2026 until March 2028 and focuses on two main areas: health and reasonable adjustments.

Actions relating to health include work towards developing a pathway for adults seeking an autism or ADHD diagnosis, as well as producing easy read information to help people understand what to expect following a diagnosis.

The plan also includes looking at whether autistic people could receive annual health checks to help identify health problems at an earlier stage, alongside further training for health staff to improve support for autistic people.

The reasonable adjustments element of the plan focuses on promoting autism-friendly workplaces, improving support in education settings and making community services, groups and activities more accessible and inclusive.

Progress will continue to be monitored by a steering group made up of representatives from the Isle of Man Government, third-sector organisations and members of the ASC community.

The ASC Strategy was introduced to raise awareness, reduce health inequalities, improve diagnosis and support, and make everyday life easier for autistic people and their families.

The full Phase Three Action Plan, along with an easy read version, is available through the ASC Strategy webpage at https://www.gov.im/news/2025/sep/25/report-highlights-impact-of-autism-spectrum-condition-strategy/.

Other accessible formats, including audio and braille, can be requested by emailing [email protected].

Information about the work completed during the first two phases is also available through the ASC Strategy webpage.