Gordon Brown Urged To Take Decisive Action On Autism, UK

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 19 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Autism campaigner Ivan Corea briefly met the Prime Minister-in-waiting, Gordon Brown and urged him to listen to the voices of parents, carers and people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome and provide them with better public services.Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder - there are estimates of 587,900 people with autism in the UK. According to researchers, 1 in 100 children may have autism. Numbers are rising and campaigners are urging the Government to act now and help children and adults who have autism spectrum disorder.

Mr. Brown who has been travelling all over the UK as part of his campaign has promised to listen to all sections of the community.

Mr. Corea urged Gordon Brown to launch a national strategy on autism and a 10 year program of action to include building specialist autism schools open to all, building autism units with sensory rooms in mainstream primary and secondary schools, further training on autism for teachers and classroom assistants, access to further and higher education for young people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome, an Autism Compact with employers in order for people with autism to gain access to the labour market. He called for an end to the closure of special schools as some autistic children may need them and urged the Government to launch a debate on autism and the elderly.

Momentum is growing in parliament in Westminster over the issue.Parliamentarians of all parties are signing an early day motion on autism - EDM 1359 backing the call of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK for a national strategy and a 10 year plan of action. Lee Scott MP launched a key debate on autism in Westminster Hall in March this year. Autism campaigner Ivan Corea and Lee Scott (MP for Ilford North) met Prime Minister Blair in April this year and handed over the Autism Report containing concerns and recommendations to HM Government. The call for a national strategy on autism was backed by several leading charities in the United Kingdom.

UK based singer/songwriter, Nimal Mendis, has just released 'Open Every Door,' a song for autism in order to raise awareness of the condition. Copies of the song for autism have been given to Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Sir Menzies (Ming) Campbell.Asian superstar Nimal Mendis has joined a growing chorus of British musicians urging Gordon Brown and politicians of all parties to take firm action on autism in the UK.

Autism Awareness Campaign UK website: http://www.uk_autism.tripod.com.

'Open Every Door', the Nimal Mendis Song for Autism: http://www.mediaeyeproductions.com/downloads.html.