Huge Momentum After Major Parliamentary Debate On Autism, UK

Main Category: Autism
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 20 Mar 2007 - 19:00 PST

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A huge momentum is building up as a result of the landmark debate on autism held in Westminster Hall on 7th March.The debate was initiated by the British parliamentarian Lee Scott, MP for Ilford North. Parliamentarians of all parties are now calling on the British Government to act decisively on autism in order to help and support adults and children with autism. The Prime Minister has been urged to formulate plans for autism before he leaves office in the summer.

Speaking in Westminster Hall, Lee Scott MP said: "The dogmatic approach of placing all pupils with special needs in mainstream schools has frequently benefited neither them or the children whom they are educated alongside.

"Many of us have at some time been seduced by the theory of inclusion which seems so nice and reasonable and politically correct, but there is clear evidence that it does not work for every autistic child," said Lee Scott.

Among those who supported this important debate was the Former Leader of the Opposition Iain Duncan-Smith MP and the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Minister Hazel Blears, the Labour MP Stephen Pound.

The debate was called for by Ivan Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK. Ivan and Charika Corea have a 11 year old son, Charin, who has autism spectrum disorder. Charin has inspired the couple to campaign long and hard for public services for all people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. They have appealed to the Government to end the 'postcode lottery' to education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care' for parents, carers and people with autism.

Ivan Corea, speaking in London said: 'I welcome the debate initiated by Lee Scott MP in Westminster. He had the courage of his convictions to stand up in parliament and speak out on autism. He has started an unstoppable movement for radical change. The debate is now regarded as one of the most important debates on autism by MPs of all parties who are now calling for action and a long term strategy to support parents, carers and people with autism,' he noted.

Autism affects around 587,000 people in the UK according to the National Autistic Society.Autism may affect upto one in 100 children in the United Kingdom - the condition is now more common in the UK and numbers are rising. In ten years time there could be significant numbers of autistic children and demand will probarby outweigh supply - hence the call of autism campaigners to act now.

The Autism Awareness Campaign UK are calling on the on Government to undertake a 10 year program of building specialist autism schools, building autism units in mainstream primary and secondary schools, tackle the failure of some secondary schools in bringing in educational strategies to deal with autistic children in a mainstream setting, access to further education and higher education, labour market opportunities for people with autism and to tackle the whole question of bullying and autistic children, the provision of recreational activities for autistic children are among the issues they wish the Prime Minister Tony Blair to address before he leaves office in the summer.

The Government tightened up guidelines where the closure schools were concerned, a day after the major autism debate in the UK Parliament. Lee Scott MP had called for an end to the closure of special schools.

Parliamentarians, charities, voluntary sector organisations, parent groups and community groups are now pressing the government to launch a 10 year program covering the recommendations called for by the Autism Awareness Campaign UK.

To read the UK parliamentary debate on autism please access the link.