West Lancashire MP has pledged her support for creating a society that
works for autistic people and their families. She made the
commitment at an All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA)
event in Parliament earlier this year, marking the 10th
anniversary of the Autism Act and highlighting the work that
still needs to be done.
Under the landmark Autism Act, alongside other important laws
like the Care Act, autistic people in England are entitled to the
care and support they need. But a recent inquiry by the APPGA,
supported by the National Autistic Society, found that autistic
people and their families in England still aren’t getting enough
support. Progress has been held up because there isn’t enough
understanding of the Act’s duties on councils and the NHS and of
how to implement them.
There are around 700,000 autistic children and adults in the UK
and a further three million family members and carers. This means
that around 1 in 100 people in each MP’s constituency are
autistic.
Autism is a lifelong disability that affects how people
communicate and interact with the world. It is a spectrum. This
means autistic people have their own strengths and face varying
challenges. Some autistic children and adults need 24-hour care
and support. Others simply need clearer communication and a
little longer to do things at work or school. Without the right
support or understanding, autistic people can miss out on an
education, struggle to find work and become extremely isolated.
West Lancashire MP said:
“I was delighted to attend this important event, marking the 10th
anniversary of the landmark Autism Act.
“I am committed to representing everyone in the area and this of
course includes autistic people and their families. Too many
autistic people continue to face inequalities. I want to change
this and am proud to pledge my support to creating a society that
works for autistic people.
“We also need to see a reduction in waiting times for an autism
diagnosis so advice and support can be provided much earlier.”
Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic
Society, said:
"Thanks to everyone who attended this important event,
celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Autism Act.
“This law has made a big difference. For instance, there is now a
route to diagnosis for adults in almost every part of the country
and the Act is still the only law dedicated to improving support
and services for a specific disability.
“But it’s not enough. Its impact has been limited by underfunding
and poor understanding of the legal duties on public services.
The APPGA’s recent inquiry showed clearly that there is simply
not enough support or understanding for autistic people in our
society.
“We, and the many MPs who signed our pledges, are committed to
changing this and to creating a society that works for autistic
people and their families.”
