UKAF Supports Cheryl Gillan MP's Autism Bill

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 12 Feb 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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The UK Autism Foundation is firmly supporting Chery Gillan MP's private member's bill along with other UK charities. Support came from autism campaigner Ivan Corea who urged parliamentarians of all parties to support the bill.

Ivan Corea said: 'We have been speaking out against the postcode lottery to public services in education, health,specialist speech therapy and respite care for so many years. Autism a 24 hour job and life is a hard struggle. Things are getting even worse as a result of the credit crunch and the economic downturn. We urge Her Majesty's Government to listen to the voices of the Autism Community. The measures in Cheryl Gillan's Autism Bill include: improving local information on the number of children and adults with autism, providing effective support from child to adult services, appropriate staff training, and the promotion of independent living for people with the disability.'

He added: ' We also want to pay a tribute to the tireless work of Lee Scott MP, Patron of the UK Autism Foundation who also introduced an Autism Bill in 2008. Lee has been championing the cause of autism in the House of Commons.We want to endorse Cheryl Gillan's Autism Bill now before the House of Commons and we hope that over 100 MPs will back and support this private member's bill in order for it to go the next stage.'

The UK Autism Foundation has appealed to Chancellor Alistair Darling to increase the tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer's allowance in the 2009 Budget. Over 24 MPs have already signed David Drew MP's early day motion 710 in the House of Commons on Autism Sunday 2009 calling for re-possessions of home of families with autism to be stopped and for further financial help for families and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome during the recession.

Prayer were said for Cheryl Gillan and the Autism Bill at the Autism Sunday 2009 London Service held at All Saint's Church in Woodford Wells, in the London Borough of Redbridge on the 8th of February. Autism Sunday is also the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, founded in 2002 Autism Awareness Year, by parents and carers Ivan and Charika Corea. Hundreds of people attended the service, travelling from all over London - parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome were joined by parliamentarians and dignitaries at this moving service for autism.

UK Autism Foundation
Woodford Business Centre
113-115 George Lane
South Woodford
London E18 1AB
United Kingdom
http://www.ukautismfoundation.org

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