EDM 1359: British MPs call for action on Autism

(London,UK)Parliamentarians of all parties in the House of Commons are currently signing an early day motion (EDM 1359)calling for decisive action on autism in the United Kingdom. Early Day Motion 1359 was tabled by the highly influential MP for Ilford South, Mike Gapes who is Chair of the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons in Westminster. The EDM states: "That this House notes that the Prime Minister met autism campaigner Ivan Corea, who presented a report on autism; backs the call of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK for the Government to undertake a 10 year

programme of building specialist autism schools, building autism units in mainstream primary and secondary schools, tackling the failure of some secondary schools in bringing in educational strategies to deal with autistic children in a mainstream setting, providing access to further education and higher education, labour market opportunities for people with autism and tackling the whole question of bullying and autistic children; requests that the Government review the provision of recreational services for autistic children; and calls on the Government to launch a cohesive national strategy for autism."

Parliamentarians are supporting the call of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK who are urging the Government to launch a national strategy on autism and a 10 year plan of action. Recently, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair met with autism campaigner Ivan Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK and leading parliamentarian Lee Scott MP (Ilford North). They presented the Prime Minister with the 'Autism Report' highlighting the concerns and the recommendations of the campaign. The call for an urgent review of autism services was backed by several charities, community organisations and faith communities. There are 587,900 people with autism in the UK. According to UK researchers, 1 in 100 children may have autism spectrum disorder.

The Corea Family have been campaigning tirelessly for better public services in education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care for all people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. They paid tribute to the inspiration behind the national campaign - their 11 year old son Charin who has autism. The autism debate has gained unprecedented momentum in the UK Parliament.Lee Scott MP initiated a landmark debate, widely regarded as one of the most important debates on autism in March 2007. Scott followed his debate with an important question to Tony Blair in Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) on 21st March 2007 in the House of Commons.The Prime Minister on that occasion said that 'Autism is a serious issue.' Parents, carers and people with autism have also been, lobbying their MPs urging action on autism and Asperger's Syndrome.