DfES Must Act On The Issue Of Bullying And Autism, Say UK Autism Campaigners

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 30 Mar 2007 - 13:00 PDT

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Autism Campaigners are calling on the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to act on the bullying of autistic children in primary and secondary schools. According to parents autistic children not only suffer bullying but have been excluded through 'internal exclusions' and indirect exclusions' with the onus on the autistic child rather than the bully. There have been instances of name calling of autistic students in mainstream secondary schools. The House of Commons Select Committe on Education have just released a major report on bullying in schools and they have highlighted the issue of bullying and children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. MPs are concerned about the issue and have called for a national inquiry into bullying.

Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair recently said that autism was a serious issue in Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in Westminster, London on 21st March. The Prime Minister was quizzed on autism by leading UK parliamentarian Lee Scott.

The Autism Awareness Campaign UK asked Lee Scott MP to raise the issue of bullying in his landmark debate on autism held in Westminster Hall on 7th March. Ivan Corea, Chair of the Autism Awareness Campaign said: said: 'Bullying of autistic children is going on in primary and secondary schools. This must stop, some schools are punishing the autistic child rather than the bully.We are asking the Secretary of State Alan Johnson to keep specific data of incidents of bullying and exclusion of autistic children and set up a mechanism where parents and carers of children with autism can register incidents of bullying because some autistic children with communication disorders may not even be able to tell their teachers about the bullies. We need real action on this and Lee Scott MP has already highlighted the seriousness of this issue in his debate on autism in parliament.'

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

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