Neil Parish MP supports autism campaign

Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, is backing The National Autistic Society’s (NAS) new campaign aimed at improving support for adults with autism in Devon and across England.

One in every hundred adults has autism, meaning there are 300,000 adults in England with the disability.

Neil Parish’s endorsement of the ‘Push For Action’ campaign follows a recent NAS survey of 1100 people across England, which showed that many adults with the disability are missing out on the support they need:

• 36% of people with autism said they need help to wash and dress. But only 7% get this support from social services.
• 77% of people with autism say they need help to manage money. But only 4% get this support from social services.
• 53% of people with autism say they want help to find work. But only 10% get the support to do so.

These findings come despite the existence of the Autism Act 2009, which was designed to improve support for adults with autism and their families. The new NAS research shows that while there have been some improvements, far too many people with autism are still waiting for the right services.

This year the Government is reviewing the impact of the Autism Act. Neil Parish is supporting ‘Push for Action’ to make sure adults with autism in [constituency/local area] and across England can access support.

Neil Parish, who is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism said: “If they don’t have the right support, many people with autism can struggle with the everyday activities that many of us take for granted. With the impact of the Autism Act under review, I hope I can count on the support of local people in the area to get  behind the NAS’ ‘Push for Action’ campaign, and  seize this opportunity to improve life for adults with the condition.

“I will be writing to the council to make sure the needs of people with autism in Devon are being put front and centre.”

Commenting, Mark Lever NAS Chief Executive said: “It’s great news that Neil Parish is championing this important campaign. Adults with autism have been waiting a long time to get the everyday support that they need.

“We’ve seen great strides forward in some parts of the country since 2009, but progress has been too slow and too patchy.

“The Government's Autism Act review gives people with autism a second chance to be heard – we need to make it count.”