(London, UK) Autism Campaigners are calling on Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Government’s Secretary of State for Children Ed Balls, to spell out their plans for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome on World Autism Day scheduled to be commemorated on 2nd April 2008.

The United Nations General Assembly designated World Autism Awareness Day on the recommendation of Qatar. This is the first ever international day for autism. Ivan Corea, head of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK congratulated Qatar for taking this step and urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to back a national strategy on autism and a 10 year plan of action on autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

There are over 60 million people with autism across the world - many on the spectrum in countries in Africa and Asia do not have access to any public services. The Autism Awareness Campaign UK is urging the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon to look into this matter and has requested United Nations Agencies to reach out and support children with adults and autism in the Third World.

Autism is now a very serious education and health issue around the world. In the United Kingdom there are over 500,000 people with autism. According to UK researchers 1 in 100 children may have autism.

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Autism Campaigners have asked the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Children's Secretary Ed Balls to spell out their plans to help parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome on World Autism Day 2008 which takes place on the 2nd of April.

The United Nations in New York has designed 2nd April as World Autism Day on the recommendation of Qatar.

Ivan Corea, head of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Her Majesty's Government to provide better public services in education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care for over 500,000 people with autism in the UK.

Over 90 MPs have signed Harry Cohen MP's early day motion 705 on autism calling on the Government to launch a national strategy on autism and a 10 year plan of action on autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

MPs of all parties are urging firm and decisive action on autism, now a very serious education and health issue in the UK.

Support has also come for Baroness Pola Uddin's call for an autism taskforce and for the Government to consult more widely

Lee Scott MP's autism bill will have the second reading in May this year in the House of Commons. Scott is calling for ring-fenced funding for autism services.

There are over 60 million people with autism around the world. Campaigners are hoping that World Autism Day will focus on the struggles of parents, carers and people with autism across the globe.

In many countries in Africa and Asia, people have virtually very little access to public services. Many children are kept at home because of culture.

http://www.24dash.com/news/communities/2008-02-18-PM-urged-to-spell-out-plans-on-World-Autism-Day

AUTISM SUNDAY - The International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome falls on Sunday 10th February 2008

Autism Sunday, and the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome falls on 10 February, when churches of all denominations will be remembering 60 million people with autism around the world, and more than 500,000 people with autism in the UK.

Ivan Corea, head of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK, who, together with his wife Charika initiated Autism Sunday in 2002, has urged churches to speak out on the suffering that parents, carers and people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome are going through as a result of not having the public services in education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care they desperately need.

The campaign was launched in 2000 by the Corea Family, who have struggled to get support for their son Charin who will be 12 years old this year and has ASD.

It is now a huge movement - they initiated 2002 as Autism Awareness Year, supported by 800 UK organisations, and that year the first ever service for autism was held at St Paul's Cathedral in London - to mark the inauguration of Autism Sunday in the UK.

Ivan Corea said: "I believe faith communities have a huge role to play in reaching out to the socially excluded, the vulnerable and the downtrodden. I would urge churches to go out to the community and reach out to parents, carers and all people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

"Faith communities could provide befriending services, help families with autism who are struggling to cope with life and 'speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.' We urge Church leaders of all denominations to back our call for a national strategy on autism and a 10-year plan for autism and Asperger's Syndrome,' he said.

Autism campaigners are calling on church leaders to take these matters up with the Prime Minister.

According to new research commissioned by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, the annual cost of autism to the UK is just under £28 billion.

For further information on Autism Sunday please see the website:
http://autismsunday.tripod.com

For the Autism Action film on youtube please see:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPyP-slDT6M

Pictured above: Ivan Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign with Archbishop John Sentamu, Baroness Pola Uddin and Lady Sentamu in the House of Lords

NEWS ARTICLE FROM INSPIRE MAGAZINE UK
http://www.inspiremagazine.org.uk/news.aspx?action=view&id=2086