Nursery World - Autism campaign goes to Downing Street

Autism campaigners and policy makers have announced plans to launch a coalition aimed at co-ordinating and improving the support available for all those affected by the condition.

The plans were agreed upon at a meeting two weeks ago (11 June) at 10Downing Street, attended by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wifeSarah, Polly Tommey, founder of the Autism Trust, Phil Hope, ministerfor care services, health advisor Greg Beales, and Oliver Jones,chairman of the Autism Trust.

Ms Tommey, whose 12-year-old son is autistic, put her name and telephonenumber on poster sites throughout the country in April as part of anadvertising campaign calling for the Prime Minister to get in touch. TheAutism Trust claimed that people affected by the condition were beingignored (News, 2 April).

Ms Tommey said, 'The ministers listened to everything we said and wetold them of the horror stories that people have told us. We get callsfrom parents whose GPs do not understand the nature of autism and blameit for causing other medical problems, when they are not connected. Whenchildren cannot speak or point to where the pain is, they need peoplewho are tuned in to their condition. Gordon Brown was very shocked andsaid the situation needs to be looked at immediately.'

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