29 Feburary 2008

For immediate use 

MP Backs Autism Campaign

Celia Barlow MP is backing the national campaign to improve the lives of autistic adults in the UK.  

The ‘I Exist’ campaign, run by The National Autistic Society, aims to highlight the isolated situation of many autistic adults and provide the support needed to transform their lives. 

The campaign aims to bring increased recognition for the plight of autistic adults and to end the situation of isolation that many Autistic people find themselves in.  The National Autistic Society also wants to address the fact that no records are kept of the number of adults in the UK suffering from autism, making it difficult to plan and provide suitable services and support.  

Celia  said;‘I am pleased to be supporting this important campaign.  We are aware that 1 in 100 children have autism, but there have been no prevalence studies to determine the number of adults with this disability.  The ‘I Exist’ campaign will help to highlight the problems facing adults with autism.’  

She has also written to Alan Johnson the health secretary to urge him to provide the funds necessary to obtain this information and help the plight of autistic adults.