Legislators heard of work by the island’s Office of Youth Affairs to accommodate children on the autism spectrum and with other neurodivergent needs in the Government’s after-school and holiday programmes.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, told the House of Assembly that the out-of-school programme was providing “welcoming, structured, safe, inclusive and properly supported” recreational spaces.

Ms Furbert said that the August 2026 summer session would be the first of its kind shaped under the office’s autism spectrum disorder work, which has included an ASD curriculum framework for out-of-school activities.

It comes with a recreational social skills model with “individual recreation plans for participating children”, Ms Furbert said.

“The mission is to provide a structured, high-energy and inclusive recreational environment where neurodivergent children can build social communication, emotional regulation, independence and confidence through play.”

She added that there were 12 registrations so far for the summer session, with “room for more”.

Ms Furbert said that, where appropriate, there would be “planned opportunities for interaction with the wider out-of-school programme population”.

Calling the summer session “an important milestone”, she said the experience would help inform “future after-school, midterm, holiday and summer programming”.

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Furbert Autism Statement.pdf

• To read the minister’s statement in full, see Related Media