I just received this message from Carole Rutherford at Autism in Mind and ask all UK readers to join us in trying to get autism discussed at the final televised debate between the party leaders.
The final Prime Ministerial debate takes place on Thursday night. The final debate is about the economy. It is estimated that there are at least half a million children and adults who have a diagnosis of autism. There are many more who have the condition without the diagnosis. There could be as many as 6 million families in the UK alone who are living with autism.
Autism-In-Mind and Asperger Syndrome Action by Parents want the leaders to talk about autism on Thursday night and we need your help now. We want you to submit the following question onto the BBC ‘Election Question’ form. The question is wrapped around the economy and how the money that is being spent on autism every year is being spent. It is important that we all ask the same question. We want 1000,s of people to ask this question by Thursday Night and if we can achieve this then maybe someone will listen to us and will talk about autism.
Question to submit to the BBC
A recent study by researchers at King’s College London estimated that autism costs the UK economy around £28.2 billion per year, and yet thousands of autistic/Asperger syndrome children and adults do not meet the criteria for any provision or services. Autism/Asperger syndrome requires services from the cradle to the grave. The only money attached to the newly published Autism Strategy will be half a million pounds for increasing awareness and understanding of autism among frontline professionals with nothing for service provision.
In the first debate there seemed to be recognition from all three parties that there is a huge social care agenda to be addressed in the future, but will it include autistic/Asperger syndrome and disabled people and what guarantee can you give that it will include them? How are you going to make sure that EVERY autistic child and adult is not left until crisis point before they are given the provision that they need? Many of us would like to know how much of the £28.2 billion is being spent on crisis management.<?b>
Here is where you post the question – you do have to give your name and where you live. You do not have to add a telephone number if you do not want to. If you do want to add this number 07960875526 this phone will be deactivated after Thursday night.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8589502.stm
Here are some facts and figures produced about Autism last year by the National Audit Office – This might help you to understand how important it is for the Leaders to ‘Talk about Autism’ on Thursday night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEKMsO9t0pU
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