UK Autism News

(London, UK) Autism campaigners in the United Kingdom are appealing for an emergency package of help and support to help families with autism during the recession. The UK Autism Foundation, an autism charity, has appealed to Chancellor Alistair Darling to reach out to the vulnerable - parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome in his Pre Budget Report (PBR) released on Monday 24th November in the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster.

Over 80 members of parliament have signed early day motion 2407 sponsored by the highly respected John Battle MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty backing the call of the UK Autism Foundation for the Chancellor Alistair Darling to support the vulnerable by increasing the tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer’s allowance in the Budget.

The UK Autism Foundation has also called for house re-possessions to be stopped. The move has been supported by Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green who urged the Chancellor to take active steps and provide guidelines to banks and building societies who were carrying out house re-possessions.

Support for the UKAF also came from the Patron, Lee Scott MP who recently spoke in a Housing Debate in the House of Commons about a family with autism in Redbridge - a bank was about to reposses their home and they had nowhere to go. The UK Autism Foundation had appealed tp Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to help parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome during the recession. ‘The suffering is very real’ said Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation.

There are over 500,000 people with autism in the United Kingdom.

http://www.bloggernews.net/118720

(Westminster, UK) Over sixty members of parliament of all parties have signed an early day motion now before the House of Commons in Parliament, urging Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling to increase tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer’s allowance in order to help families with autism who are below the poverty line, during the present financial crisis.

Early day motion 2407 is enjoying huge support in the House of Commons. The motion was tabled by the highly respected parliamentarian John Battle MP(Leeds West) who is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty. Mr.Battle has campaigned solidly to end child poverty in the UK. EDM 2407 was tabled in parliament in support of the ‘Poverty and Autism’ initiative launched by the autism charity, the UK Autism Foundation. The UK Autism Foundation is appealing to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to come to the aid of the vulnerable during the econmic downturn and the present credit crunch. The looming recession has placed enormous burdens on families with autism. Many will be in fuel poverty this winter.

Ivan Corea said: ‘John Battle’s early day motion supporting the ‘Poverty and Autism’ initiative highlights the desperate needs of the vulnerable and the marginalised. The UK Autism Foundation is committed to the poor. Many are suffering as a result of the economic downturn. We are asking the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to come up with a package to support the vulnerable where families with autism are concerned. They will need short term support and long term support during the recession.’

Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder, over 500,000 people in the United Kingdom are on the autism spectrum. According to UK researchers 1 in 100 children are on the spectrum.

Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green who has campaigned since the 1970s on poverty in the East End of London called on the Prime Minister to stop re-possessions of homes belonging to families with autism. ‘Where will they go if their homes are re-possessed?’ asked the Baroness. roness uddin, Lady Uddin is aiming to bring the ‘Poverty and Autism’ issue before the House of Lords.

To view the early day motion supporting the UK Autism Foundation’s ‘Poverty and Autism’ initiative:

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=36799&SESSION=891

http://www.bloggernews.net/118644

The deadline for the ePolititix Charity Champion Awards for 2008 is Friday November 14 2008. The autism campaigner in the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster, Lee Scott MP for Ilford North has been shortlisted for the ePolitix Disability Champion Award for 2008. Scott has campaigned night and day for parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome in the UK.

He was nominated by the autism charity, the UK Autism Foundation. Scott is Patron of the UKAF and has given his strongest support yet for the on going work of the foundation.

(London, UK) The influential parliamentarian Lee Scott MP has given his strongest backing to the UK Autism Foundation. Scott is Patron of the autism charity for a new generation, the UK Autism Foundation. He has pledged to support the on-going work of the charity.

The British based UKAF has a 'vision for autism' which includes building the first ever state of the art Autism Centre in London, building an autism school and creating initiatives to help families with autism who are below the poverty line.

There are over 500,000 people with autism in the United Kingdom. According to UK rsearchers 1 in 100 children are on the autism spectrum.

Recently the UK Autism Foundation nominated Lee Scott for the ePolitix Disability Champion Award for 2008. Scott has now been shortlisted for the award.

Ivan Corea said: 'We are thrilled that Lee Scott, Patron of the UK Autism Foundation has been shortlisted for the Epolitix Disability Champion Award for 2008. He has fully supported the work of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK and now the UK Autism Foundation. He has been a magnificent champion for autism in the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster. He is a marvellous Ambassador for Autism and has worked non stop to help parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The UK Autism Foundation has said thank you to Lee for all he is doing for autism in the UK.'

THE second of the Kenton Lectures will be given by Dame Stephanie Shirley, a lifetime achievement winner at the Henley Standard Business Awards.

Dame Shirley, who lives in Phyllis Court Drive, Henley, has called her talk Give and take — an unusual tale of rags to riches.

She will tell the story of her childhood as an unaccompanied German refugee and her journey to becoming one of England’s most successful businesswomen.

Dame Shirley has formed three charity organisations: the Kingswood Trust, the Priors Court Foundation and the Shirley Foundation. She has also given away more than £50million, mainly to autism charities. Her talk on December 1 will begin at 8pm and tickets are available from the Kenton Theatre box office in New Street (01491) 575698.

From Blogger News Network:
http://www.bloggernews.net/118576

(London, UK) The UK Autism Foundation has released a statement in London stating the autism charity is delighted that the Patron of UKAF, Lee Scott MP has been short listed for the ePolitix Disability Champion Award 2008. Lee Scott MP has campaigned night and day for all people with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, not only in the London Borough of Redbridge but right across the UK. So many parents and carers and people with autism have been in touch with him, he has also sought cross party consensus where issues of autism are concerned for example with his Autism Bill – a private member’s bill. Lee Scott and I met with Prime Minister Tony Blair last year on autism. He initiated a landmark debate on autism and quizzed Tony Blair in Prime Minister’s Questions in April 2007.

Lee Scott is fully supporting the UKAF’s ‘Vision for Autism’, to build the first ever state of the art Autism Centre in London, to build an autism school to service the needs of children with autism from Tower Hamlets to Redbridge, thirdly to build up a fund in order for us to help the poor. There are many more families who are below the poverty line. They desperately need help during the economic downturn. The vulnerable are suffering. The UK Autism Foundation is committed to the poor and will continue to speak up for the vulnerable and the marginalised in Britain.

Recently the UK Autism Foundation launched the Poverty and Autism initiative urging Her Majesty’s Government to help families with autism one of the hardest hit groups as a result of the credit crunch and the looming recession. The UKAF is calling for greater financial support in the next Budget. The foundation has specifically called for an increase in tax credits, the disability living allowance and carer’s allowance. The Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty, John Battle MP, has tabled EDM 2407 currently before the House of Commons supporting our call. Lee Scott has also signed this early day motion. In the House of Lords, Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green has also released a statement, backing the UKAF initiative on ‘Poverty and Autism.’

The UK Autism Foundation is urging British MPs and Peers to consider voting for Lee Scott in the e-Politix Disability Champion Awards for 2008 as he has championed the cause of autism in the House of Commons.

For the e-Politix Disability Champion Shortlist link, please access the webpage:
http://www.charitychampionawards.com/shortlist_info.asp?id=12

FROM MEDICAL NEWS TODAY:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/128805.php

Dame Stephanie Shirley one of Britain's leading autism campaigners recently visited the London Borough of Redbridge for the first time to deliver an Autism Lecture in Woodford Green, Essex, on the invitation of the autism charity, the UK Autism Foundation. She is also one of the UK's top entrepreneurs, arriving in Britain from Austria at the age of 5 years old; a child refugee fleeing the horrors of Nazi-occupied Germany. Dame Stephanie arrived at Liverpool Street Station stateless, penniless and without any knowledge of the English language.

She is now one of the wealthiest women in Britain due to a talent for maths, computer science and entrepreneurship.She started an early business technology group on her dining room table with £6 in 1962. In 25 years as its Chief Executive, she developed the company, now called Xansa into a FTSE 250 leading technology group, which has pioneered new working practices and changed the position of professional women - especially in hi-tech.

Steve Shirley addressed a large audience and shared her moving story of life with her late son Giles who had autism. Ivan Corea said: ' I am delighted that Dame Stephanie Shirley visited the London Borough of Redbridge. Many parents, carers and dignitaries who attended the event organised in partnership between UKAF, Redbridge Parents in Partnership and the parents autism group STAAR, found her story so moving. She is an inspiration to so many people. Here is someone who has broken through barriers on so many different levels. What an example, what a role model.'

Val Davies of the Family Fund also spoke at the meeting together with Ivan Corea (UKAF), Norman Darling (UKAF), Rev Paul Harcourt (UKAF), Angela Naish (PIP) and Athena Daniels (STAAR).

The UK Autism Foundation plans to build the first ever state of the art Autism Centre in London and launch initiatives to help the poor. Recently the UK Autism Foundation launched an initiative on Poverty and Autism. The Patron of the Foundation is the autism campaigner in the House of Commons, Lee Scott MP for Ilford North.

Dame Stephanie Shirley one of Britain's leading autism campaigners recently visited the London Borough of Redbridge for the first time to deliver an Autism Lecture in Woodford Green, Essex, on the invitation of the autism charity, the UK Autism Foundation. She is also one of the UK's top entrepreneurs, arriving in Britain from Austria at the age of 5 years old; a child refugee fleeing the horrors of Nazi-occupied Germany. Dame Stephanie arrived at Liverpool Street Station stateless, penniless and without any knowledge of the English language. She is now one of the wealthiest women in Britain due to a talent for maths, computer science and entrepreneurship.She started an early business technology group on her dining room table with £6 in 1962. In 25 years as its Chief Executive, she developed the company, now called Xansa into a FTSE 250 leading technology group, which has pioneered new working practices and changed the position of professional women - especially in hi-tech.

Steve Shirley addressed a large audience and shared her moving story of life with her late son Giles who had autism. Ivan Corea said: ' I am delighted that Dame Stephanie Shirley visited the London Borough of Redbridge. Many parents, carers and dignitaries who attended the event organised in partnership between UKAF, Redbridge Parents in Partnership and the parents autism group STAAR, found her story so moving. She is an inspiration to so many people. Here is someone who has broken through barriers on so many different levels. What an example, what a role model.'

Val Davies of the Family Fund also spoke at the meeting together with Ivan Corea (UKAF), Norman Darling (UKAF), Rev Paul Harcourt (UKAF), Angela Naish (PIP) and Athena Daniels (STAAR).

The UK Autism Foundation plans to build the first ever state of the art Autism Centre in London and launch initiatives to help the poor. Recently the UK Autism Foundation launched an initiative on Poverty and Autism. The Patron of the Foundation is the autism campaigner in the House of Commons, Lee Scott MP for Ilford North.

For further information:
http://www.ukautismfoundation.org

Autism campaigners from around the world congratulated President Elect Barack Obama for winning the race to the White House. This campaign was historic in many ways. It was the first time that Autism was mentioned specifically in a Presidential Debate and received a very high profile on the campaign trail. Barack Obama and John McCain had spoken on autism. VP Candidate Sarah Palin put special educational needs at the top of her agenda.

Autism campaigners are now looking to the new President Barack Obama to lead on autism in 2009. Autism organisations around the world have sent messages to Barack Obama urging the President Elect to take action on autism.

In Britain, the UK Autism Foundation was one of the first organisations to congratulate Barack Obama.

Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation said in London: ‘I congratulate Barack Obama for winning the presidency of the United States of America, we hope that the winds of change will involve parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. I urge President Obama to make a clear statement to the world on autism on the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April 2009 and show the international community that he plans to take genuine and real action on autism.’

Autism Campaigners are also calling on the new President to open the gates of the White House to children and adults with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome to mark the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day in 2009 and showcase the talents and successes of people with autism, not forgetting the continuing struggles that people have, particularly during the economic downturn.

Barack Obama has a clearly defined Autism Plan. During the campaign, Barack Obama released a statement on autism:’More than one million Americans have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a complex condition that impacts communication, socialization, and behavior. And more cases of ASD are being recognized across the country at an alarming pace. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that we must do more to help support Americans with ASD, their families, and their communities. Throughout his career, Barack Obama has worked with families affected by ASD to raise awareness and to provide support to parents and families living with ASD. As president, he will build on these many years of advocacy and ensure that his administration prioritizes ASD research, public awareness, and lifelong support services. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will seek to increase federal ASD funding for research, treatment, screenings, public awareness, and support services to $1 billion annually by the end of his first term in office. They will mandate insurance coverage of autism treatment and will also continue to work with parents, physicians, providers, researchers, and schools to create opportunities and effective solutions for people with ASD.’

Campaigners are now looking to the new President in the White House to bring change where autism is concerned and lead from the front on the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April 2009.

For the statement on autism by Barack Obama please access the link:
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/AutismSpectrumDisorders.pdf

http://www.bloggernews.net/118491

(London, UK) One of Britain's highly influential entrepreneurs, Dame Stephanie Shirley visits the London Borough of Redbridge for the first time, on the invitation of the autism charity, the UK Autism Foundation.

Dame Stephanie Shirley who is the Chairperson of the Shirley Foundation and Chair of Autism Speaks UK has campaigned tirelessly for autism in the United Kingdom.

Stephanie Shirley arrived in Britain from Austria at the age of 5 years old; a child refugee fleeing the horrors of Nazi-occupied Germany. Dame Stephanie arrived at Liverpool Street Station stateless, penniless and without any knowledge of the English language. She is now one of the wealthiest women in Britain due to a talent for maths, computer science and entrepreneurship.

Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley started an early business technology group on her dining room table with £6 in 1962. In 25 years as its Chief Executive, she developed the company, now called Xansa into a FTSE 250 leading technology group, which has pioneered new working practices and changed the position of professional women - especially in hi-tech - during that period of time.

'An Evening with Dame Stephanie Shirley,' takes place in Woodford Green, Essex on Monday 3rd November. The high powered event is jointly organised by the UK Autism Foundation, Redbridge Parents in Partnership and Supporting Together those with Autism and Aspergers in Redbridge (STAAR).

Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation said: 'I am delighted that Dame Stephanie Shirley is visiting Redbridge on the invitation of UKAF. She is an amazing person, a wonderful role model, Dame Stephanie Shirley is truly inspirational. She has a very powerful leadership story to share. Steve Shirley is highly respected as an entrepreneur and an autism campaigner. The UKAF is delighted to join forces with two important organisations in the London Borough of Redbridge - PIP and STAAR to hold this key event.'

Also speaking is Val Davies of the Family Fund. Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation, Angela Naish of Redbridge Parents in Partnership and Athena Daniels of Supporting Together those with Autism and Aspergers in Redbridge STAAR) will also speak about their organisations.

Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder, over 500,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the United Kingdom. According to UK researchers 1 in 100 children are on the spectrum. There are 60 million people with autism around the world.

The UK Autism Foundation has launched a £10 million fundraising project. The charity's 'vision for autism' includes building the first ever state-of-the-art Autism Centre in London, building an autism school and launching initiatives to help and support families with autism who are below the poverty line in the United Kingdom.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-133259