In our ongoing exploration of Neurodiversity Economics, let’s delve into the far-reaching impact of austerity on neurodiverse individuals in the United Kingdom. We’ll break down this complex issue in a clear and educational way.
Defining Austerity
Austerity – a term that has dominated economic and political discussions in the UK. But what exactly does it mean? At its core, austerity is a set of policies addressing a government’s budget deficit. When a government spends more money than it generates in revenue, it must find ways to achieve two objectives:
- Increase government revenue by raising taxes.
- Reduce government expenditure by cutting public spending (1).
The Severity of Austerity in the UK
The story of austerity in the UK began in the wake of the global recession in 2008 during David Cameron’s coalition government. Despite the passage of time, austerity measures have persisted, with the government attributing this to various factors like Brexit, COVID, and global conflicts (2)
According to the Progressive Economy Forum, austerity has resulted in a staggering reduction of at least half a trillion pounds from public spending – that’s over £540 billion, equivalent to the cost of 54 brand-new hospitals (3).
The Impact on Public Services
The effects of austerity are most profoundly felt in our vital public services, which are crucial to the well-being of all citizens, especially the neurodivergent community. Here’s a glimpse of the damage done:
👩⚕️ Healthcare: The National Health Service (NHS) has borne the brunt of austerity, leading to staff shortages and increased patient waiting times. According to the King’s Fund, public spending on healthcare increased annually by 2.6% when adjusted for age and inflation between 1979 and 2021. The period from 2010 to 2021 saw the most substantial increase in healthcare spending. If the UK matched the average public spending on healthcare per person in EU14 countries, health spending would have been £40 billion higher yearly, which could have significantly improved physical and mental healthcare services (4-5).
📚 Education: Schools and universities have faced reduced funding, resulting in larger class sizes, limited resources, and inadequate investment in educational infrastructure. Austerity directly affects the quality of education and the support available to neurodivergent students (6-7).
🏘️ Social Services: Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and the neurodivergent, have been disproportionately affected by cuts to social services, which are essential for their well-being. (4)
🏢 Local Government: Local authorities have experienced significant budget cuts, impacting services like libraries, youth groups, and community programs, which can be crucial for neurodivergent individuals (8).
🏡 Housing: Austerity has also had implications for housing services, leading to reduced funding for affordable housing initiatives and support for people experiencing homelessness (9-10).
💰 Welfare and Benefits: Austerity measures included reforms to welfare and benefits systems, introducing changes to eligibility criteria and benefits caps that reduce the benefits marginalised individuals such as neuro minorities received (11).
Austerity has caused the working conditions of the public sector to decline, which has led to strikes throughout the public sector. These strikes are indicative of a deterioration of morale within the public sector. The effect of austerity on the public sector workforce further exacerbates the decline of poor public services on neuro minorities.
Furthermore, austerity increases/ worsen inequalities that exist due to race, gender, disability and other difference in society. So, looking at austerity through the lens of intersectionality, we can see that, not surprisingly, austerity has a more significant effect on individuals from multi-marginalised communities (12-13).
🌟 The Impact of Austerity on Neurodiversity: A Case Study
Meet Sola, a British-born Nigerian who happens to be neurodivergent. Sola’s educational journey is a testament to the profound effects of austerity on neurodivergent individuals.
Sola’s parents often received adverse school reports during parent-teacher meetings. Teachers repeatedly urged them to encourage Sola to “apply himself” and do better in school. As the youngest of three siblings, he was under tremendous pressure, especially considering his older siblings were straight-A students. Sola attended a school grappling with the repercussions of austerity. Large class sizes and severely limited resources made it challenging for teachers to provide individualised attention. The educators were demoralised and frustrated by their working conditions, making it hard to motivate and support students effectively.
Like any loving guardians, Sola’s parents wished their son the best. They longed to send him to a private school where he could receive the personalised attention he needed to thrive academically. However, the financial burden of such a decision was too significant due to the ongoing austerity measures. As Sola progressed into his teenage years, he faced not only academic challenges but also the cruelty of bullying. His struggle within an education system ill-suited for his neurodiversity took a toll on his mental health. Unfortunately, adequate access to mental health services was a distant dream, as austerity had stripped away resources that could have supported individuals like Sola. Sola’s story turns for the better when a stroke of luck intervenes. His father was friends with a psychiatrist who could provide private treatment. This intervention was a lifeline, preventing a significant deterioration in Sola’s mental health.
Miraculously, Sola navigated through university, pursuing a degree in business. However, his university experience was a stark contrast to that of his siblings. The impact of austerity was felt in every aspect of his academic life. His lecturers noticed his potential and suggested assignments to help him excel, recognising his challenges. One concrete example of austerity’s impact was the disruption of Sola’s exams due to strikes among lecturers. These strikes not only affected his academic performance but also caused significant emotional distress for him and his friends.
Sola’s story sheds light on the broader implications of austerity on the neurodivergent community. Many within this community depend on vital services such as social services, access to work, and mental health support. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of neurodivergent individuals experience poor mental health outcomes due to austerity’s grip on public services. It is important to note that austerity is not a force of nature but a political decision. Its consequences are felt by those who rely more on public services to maintain their quality of life.
Recognising these effects is the first step toward advocating for change, ensuring a more supportive and inclusive society for all, regardless of their neurodiversity. As an election cycle, it’s important to remember that although the Conservative Party introduces austerity and does not necessarily make an incoming part, it will do away with austerity and adequately invest in public services. Therefore, whoever wins the next election, neuro minorities must hold the government to account to get adequate funding for public services.
#NeurodiversityEconomics #AusterityImpact #Education #MentalHealth #Inclusivity #NeurodiversityEconomics #AusterityEffects #UK #PublicServices #InclusiveSociety #Education #Healthcare #SocialServices
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/austerity.asp#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways,debt%2C%20defined%20by%20increased%20frugality.
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/10/how-austerity-and-ideology-broke-britain
- https://progressiveeconomyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/pef_23_macroeconomics_of_austerity.pdf
- https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2022/11/critical-for-health-government-learns-lessons-austerity
- https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-04/Rise_and_Decline_of_the_NHS_April_2023.pdf
- https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/2022/09/06/the-disadvantage-gap-children-of-austerity-or-children-of-adversity/
- https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres/cage/news/03-06-20-advantage_magazine__summer/article-4/#:~:text=Education%20spending%20during%20the%20austerity,%2D11%20and%202018%2D19.
- https://www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/worse-than-austerity-councils-warn-that-any-cuts-to-their-budgets-next-year-would-mean-th
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03003930.2022.2033227
- https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/progressingplanning/2022/09/21/the-crisis-of-affordable-housing-in-the-uk/
- https://theconversation.com/austerity-gutted-the-welfare-state-preserving-benefits-now-cant-make-up-for-that-193360#:~:text=People%20were%20unable%20to%20pay,close%20between%202010%20and%202018.
- https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/austerity-has-its-own-life/
- https://www.thediversecreative.org/homecoming-project-report-access
