UK Autism News

Joan Ruddock MP, Under- Secretary of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, has personally responded to the UK Autism Foundation, after the charity campaigned hard on the issue of Autism and Fuel Poverty.

UKAF has called on HM Government to ease the burdens of families with autism who are below the poverty line by addressing the winter fuel poverty issue. UKAF has maintained that some families are in fuel poverty and had to choose between heating and eating. They needed urgent help.

Backing for the UK Autism Foundation's appeal came from parliamentarians of all parties who signed an early day motion in the House of Commons on Autism and Winter Fuel Poverty tabled by Rudi Vis MP. EDM 281 was signed by 58 MPs in the Palace of Westminster.

'Fuel Poverty is an issue which the Government takes very seriously. We also appreciate the finance is an issue of great importance to people with a disability, including families with autism. I note that you are urging energy companies to consider social tariffs for all families with disabilities, including families with autism.As the majority of fuel poverty households also have the lowest incomes, the Government has taken the approach that the most fair and efficient method of identifying vulnerable householders who need help is through the receipt of benefits (primarily means tested),' said Minister Joan Ruddock in a letter to Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation.

The Minister covered areas of concern highlighted by the UK Autism Foundation - including pre-payment meters and the controversy over higher direct debit payments taken by energy suppliers.

Joan Ruddock, writing to the UK Autism Foundation added: ' The Government acknowledges that disabled people can face extra costs, particularly with reference to food, transport and extra heating. That is why help is already available through disability benefits and the disability premium in income-related benefits in recognition of the extra costs, which can include heating.'

Ivan Corea said: 'The deepening recession is hitting families with autism who are below the poverty line very hard - many are in financial pain. If the recession worsens in 2009-2010 many families with disabilities will need extra help. The Government must ensure that families with autism will receive support with regards to their heating bills. Profits have been made at the expense of the vulnerable. Energy Companies must ensure that they reach out to families with disabilities - by introducing special social tariffs and support them during the economic downturn.'

The autism campaigner in the House of Commons, Lee Scott MP has also written to energy companies urging them to help families with autism who are below the poverty line.

UKAF has also appealed to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to increase the tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer's allowance in the 2009 Budget scheduled to be delivered by the Chancellor on Wednesday 22nd April in Parliament. The UKAF appeal enjoys the support of parliamentarians of all parties in the House of Commons.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling will deliver his second Budget on the 22nd of April 2009. The budget comes at a time when the United Kingdom and many countries around the world are facing a severe economic crisis and a global recession.

The poor are bearing the brunt of the recession. Food prices have gone up - including gluten free products - used by families with autism. Parents have lost their jobs and homes of families with autism have been re-possessed. Some families are in fuel poverty and have had to choose between heating and eating.

The UK Autism Foundation has appealed to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to reach out to families with autism who are below the poverty line.

Recently the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, wrote about autism for the first time. Writing to the UK Autism Foundation, Gordon Brown said: ' We are determined that people with autism and their families get the support they need and deserve, and know that without it the condition can have a devastating impact. ' The Prime Minister also outlined the Government's Autism Plan in his letter to the UK Autism Foundation.

UKAF also heard from the Care Services Minister Phil Hope MP who said that he wants to help parents, carers and people with autism.

Ivan Corea said: 'The April 22nd Budget is absolutely crucial. We are urging Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to help parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Life is extremely hard for many families who are suffering as a result of the economic downturn and the recession. UKAF is calling for Chancellor Darling to increase the tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer's allowance on 22nd of April. He must help the poor.The economic crisis is having a crippling effect on families with autism who are below the poverty line.'

UKAF has urged Chancellor Alistair Darling to seize the opportunity and reach out to the marginalised and the vulnerable in the April 2009 Budget.

UK Autism Foundation:
http://www.ukautismfoundation.org

Medical News Today have featured the story on the Minister Phil Hope contacting the UK Autism Foundation on Autism:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145635.php

Phil Hope MP, Minister of State for Care Services at the Department of Health has written to Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation stating that 'Autism is a vitally important issue and we want to do more to support people with the condition and their families. We know that, left unsupported, autism can have a devastating impact on people and families.We also know that they do not get the support they need and deserve.'

The Minister informed the UK Autism Foundation that the DCSF is leading a complementary programme of work to improve provision for children with autism and their families. It will be increasing its funding for the Autism Education Trust in the coming financial year to support the Trust in working with local authorities and Primary Care Trusts to improve the commissioning of services for children with the condition. Subject to Royal Assent for the Apprentiships, Skills Children and Learning Bill, DCSF will be consulting on new statutory guidance for Children and Young People's Plans which clearly reflects the needs of disabled children, including those with autism. Phil Hope said this will ensure services in a range of areas - health, social care and education, for example - are all better tailored to the needs of autistic children.

This programme is in addition to work with the Department of Health on transitions and work already being taken forward on developing in-service teacher training materitals on autism, on bullying and exclusions of children with special education needs and short breaks. This programme of work with children and young people with autism is now underpinned by the Child Health Strategy announced on 28th January by Ed Balls and Alan Johnson, which included further funding of £340 million to fund health services for disabled children, including children with autism with the most complex needs.

The UK Autism Foundation, a registered British charity, has been lobbying and campaigning on behalf of families with autism who are below the poverty line. Over 200 MPs of all parties have signed three early day motions in the House of Commons supporting UKAF's appeal. Recently Prime Minister Gordon Gordon wrote to the UK Autism Foundation - for the first time - on autism. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have also contacted UKAF on the serious issues of autism.

Ivan Corea 'While I welcome the moves by the Government to do more for parents, carers,children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome I am urging the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to end the postcode lottery to public services in 2009 not in 10 years time. Familes and people with autism desperately need help. We have appealed to Chancellor Alistair Darling to increase the tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer's allowance in the April Budget - in order for parents, carers and people with autism to cope with life during the deepening recession.'

(Westminster, UK) The influential British parliamentarian, Lee Scott, MP for Ilford North, 'stood up for autism' and urged others to do so on the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday 2nd April 2009.

Scott has campaigned tirelessly for autism in the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster in Britain. He introduced a landmark debate on autism in 2007 and has asked questions on autism in parliamet. He quizzed the British Prime Minister on autism in Prime Minister's Questions in 2007.

Lee Scott introduced the first ever Autism Bill in the House of Commons, a private member's bill in 2008. He has helped not only families with autism in his constituency but also across the United Kingdom. The parliamentarian is a Patron of the UK Autism Foundation. The charity is campaigning on behalf of the poor and is a partner of the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day. Recently British Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke about autism for the very first time when he contacted the autism campaigner Ivan Corea.

In 2007 Lee Scott and Ivan Corea met with Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the issues surrounding autism.

World Autism Awareness Day was initiated by the United Nations on 2nd April 2008. WAAD was backed by the UN General Assembly and the day was proposed by Qatar. Hundreds of awareness raising events were held around the world to mark WAAD 2009.

Scott has called on Prime Minister Brown and the British Government to provide ring fenced funding for autism and to end the postcode lottery to public services. On World Autism Awareness Day, Lee Scott addressed a huge gathering of parents in the London Borough of Redbridge. Scott who is a member of the Select Committee on Health is determined his campaign to raise the profile of autism in the House of Commons, in Westminster.

The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Gordon Brown has outlined the Government's proposals for autism. The Prime Minister was in touch with British autism campaigner Ivan Corea, father of Charin, a 13 year old boy with autism spectrum disorder. This was history in the making - it was the first time that the Prime Minister has written over his plans for autism.

Parents and carers Ivan and Charika Corea have been campaigning long and hard on autism since 2000 with the Autism Awareness Campaign UK. They initiated 2002 as Autism Awareness Year supported by 800 UK organisations. In 2008 they launched a new autism charity - the UK Autism Foundation. The charity has been campaigning specifically on behalf of families with autism who are below the poverty line. Over 200 MPs have signed three early day motions backing the UK Autism Foundation's call for help for the poor. The EDMs were sponsored by John Battle MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty, Rudi Vis MP and David Drew MP. They attracted all party support in the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown writing to Ivan Corea said:' We are determined that people with autism and their families get the support they need and deserve, and know that without it the condition can have a devastating impact.

We are improving the quality of services provided to adults with autism by:

- publishing good practice Commissioning Guidance for the NHS and local authorities in April;

- launching a consultation on a new national strategy for autism, with the final strategy to be published by the end of the year. The strategy has four main priorities: health, social inclusion (including employment), choice and control, and training. Part of the autism strategy will look at how young people can access appropriate placements, whether that is to study, to get a paid job or to access training. It will also consider how people can be supported to live in their communities and how their needs are addressed.

- issuing statutory guidance, subject to consultation and assessment of benefits. Implementation of the strategy will be driven regionally: led by the Government Offices for the Regions and through the Valuing People Now Regional Boards (for adults with autism who have a learning disability);

- the appointment of Elaine Hill, a national adviser on autism, last October to work with key stakeholders to shape priorities for the strategy;

- determining the best way to help local authorities and other agencies gather data, assess needs and commission services for adults with autism in their area; and

- funding a study on the prevalance of autism in adults, to commence later this year.

I hope you will agree that the action the Government is already taking and will take in the coming months will prove an effective way of delivering the outcomes we all wish to see for people with autism and their families,' said Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his letter to Ivan Corea from 10 Downing Street.

On the subject of the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day which was held on Thursday 2nd April, the Prime Minister said he would like to take the opportunity to thank the staff, supporters and volunteers in all of the organisations who have worked so hard to make World Autism Awareness Day a success.

Ivan Corea said: 'I am delighted with the Prime Minister's personal response on autism. This is the first time that Gordon Brown has written, outlining the Government's intended actions on autism. Her Majesty's Government has accomplished a great deal on autism but there is more work to be done. We really do need an end to the postcode lottery to public services - people are desperate for public services in education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care. We need new streams of funding and the autism campaigner in the House of Commons, Lee Scott MP, has called for ring fenced funding for autism. We welcome the fact that the G20 London Summit focused on the world's poor. The UK Autism Foundation is campaigning specifically on behalf of the poor and we thank all those who supported our call to G20 leaders to reach out to the poor. We now urge Chancellor Alistair Darling to provide real financial support for families with autism in the April 2009 Budget - by increasing the tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer's allowance. Things are desperate for many, many parents and carers. Fathers and mothers are losing their jobs, the homes of families with autism have been re-possessed by banks - we urge Gordon Brown to stop the re-possessions. Some families are suffering as a result of fuel poverty. Things could get worse if the recession deepens in 2009 and parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome will need more help and support to cope with life during this economic crisis.'

UKAF also supported Cheryl Gillan MP's Autism Bill which goes on to the next stage in the House of Commons.

The UK Autism Foundation was a partner of the historic United Nations World Autism Awareness Day. WAAD was launched by the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the 2nd of April 2008, on the recommendation of the State of Qatar. This year, 20 UK charities urged people to 'Stand Up for Autism,' on World Autism Awareness Day.

(London, UK) Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a personal response from 10 Downing Street, to autism campaigner Ivan Corea who launched the UK Autism Foundation. The autism campaigner has been urging G20 leaders not to walk by on the other side and reach out to families with autism who are below the poverty line. Gordon Brown said: 'We are determined that people with autism and their families get the support they need and deserve, and know that without it the condition can have a devastating effect.'

Thursday 2nd April 2009 is World Autism Awareness Day. Ivan Corea has urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown to speak up for the marginalized, the socially excluded and the vulnerable at the G20 Conference on World Autism Awareness Day.

Ivan Corea said: 'I am grateful for the Prime Minister's personal response but we need urgent and decisive action on autism. I appeal to G20 leaders to help the vulnerable by providing financial support. Homes of families with autism have been repossessed, some families are in fuel poverty, some parents have lost their jobs. Who will bail out parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.I am appealing to President Barack Obama and every single G20 leader on World Autism Awareness Day, please do not walk by on the other side, so many are suffering as a result of the economic crisis. They desperately need help in 2009 not in 10 years time. There are 60 million people with autism - some children with autism are at the very edge in Africa and Asia - they have no hope.G20 leaders must help those who are struggling to cope with life.'

Leader of the Opposition David Cameron has also written to to Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation, on World Autism Awareness Day. Mr. Cameron said: "I am pleased to express my support for UN World Autism Awareness Day. As many as one in a hundred people could be affected by some form of autism, and it is important that we recognise and raise awareness of the difficulties and challenges that they can face."

Nick Clegg the Lib Dem leader has also written to the UK Autism Foundation. He said: 'Too many people with autism do not receive the kind of support that would help them achieve their potential, either as children or in adulthood and we firmly believe that more needs to be done to change this. We also know that the economic downturn has hit vulnerable families, such as those with autism, especially hard, this is a challenge to politicians of all parties to ensure they are not forgotten a result of the economic crisis. Parents and carers, Ivan and Charika Corea have been campaigning since 2000 first launching the Autism Awareness Campaign UK. They initiated 2002 as Autism Awareness Year supported by 800 UK organizations. In 2008 they launched a new autism charity for a new generation, the UK Autism Foundation and are campaigning and lobbying specifically on behalf of the poor. The inspiration behind their campaign is their 13 year old son Charin who has autism spectrum disorder.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144721.php