Struggles faced by autistic people in accessing support

The struggles faced by autistic people in accessing support were outlined to MPs, including Justin Madders, at a key event held in Parliament recently.

Former Shadow Health Minister Mr Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough and now a Minister in the Department for Business and Trade, was among those invited to ‘A Constant Fight…’, organised at Portcullis House in Westminster by the National Autistic Society charity.

Event organisers are calling on the new Government to tackle inequality for autistic people and keep them at the heart of policy decisions.  Authors of ‘A Constant Fight…’ suggest autistic people are bearing the brunt of broken systems across society – more than 2,000 wrote to their MPs urging them to attend the event.

Speeches included those by Caroline Stevens, National Autistic Society chief executive, plus Marie Tidball MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism.

 Mel Merritt, head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: 

“Autistic people and their families can face a constant fight for support, from diagnosis and education to healthcare, mental health support, employment and beyond. The constant fight is exhausting and is blighting autistic people's lives, and it can have devastating consequences.”

The fully titled ‘A Constant Fight: The Reality of Autistic People’s Struggle for Support Across Health and Social Care, Education, Employment and Mental Health’ is available on the National Autistic Society’s website.

https://www.autism.org.uk/

Pictured – Justin Madders MP with Caroline Stevens, National Autistic Society Chief Executive.