I am almost a month through my SCDTP internship with Portsmouth City Council as part of the Public Health Team, looking at accessibility of the substance use services for Autistic clients. I am excited to bring what I have learned with Autistic Substance Use Network (including the findings we shared in Munday et al., 2025) to create a blueprint for accessibility, which can hopefully be used across a range of services provided by PCC.

I am using a multi-faceted process looking at knowledge, environment, and practice as fundamental to ongoing accessibility.

The first is observing, evaluating and presenting on the Society of St James’ Neurodiveristy training. This will involved analysing the feedback from attendees to create an ongoing evaluation of training needs and interests.

The second is auditing the Recovery Hub website and physical setting. I shall be using the SPACE framework within the physical setting audit (Doherty et al., 2023). This framework aims to be a simple way to promote accessibility without creating additional strain on clinicians. SPACE stands for: Sensory needs, Predictability, Acceptance, Communication, and Empathy.

The third is working closely with LGBTQIA+ recovery workers (some of whom are also Autistic and/or otherwise neurodivergent). I decided on this particular group due to the significant overlap of LGBTQIA+ and Autistic identities (George & Stokes, 2018; Weir et al., 2021) and have also reached out to Room 1 who facilitate regular Intuitive Thinking Skills sessions.

Things are going well, and as with many things decisions and conversations are had over coffee, lunch or a nice slice of cake.