The National Autistic Society is today celebrating the passing into law of the Autism Act. The following is from their website:
The Autism Bill has made it through its final parliamentary stage and will now become the Autism Act. The Act is the first ever disability-specific law in England.
The Autism Act started out as a Private Members Bill, drafted by The National Autistic Society (NAS) and taken forward by Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan. The Bill was backed by a coalition of 16 autism organisations and had overwhelming parliamentary support, being backed by all the main political parties.
The adult autism strategy
The Autism Act will guarantee the introduction of the first-ever adult autism strategy, which will set out how local services should be improved to meet the needs of adults with autism.
The strategy will cover a range of issues including health, social care, employment and training and, crucially, will be accompanied by guidance which places a legal obligation on local authorities and NHS bodies to meet certain requirements.
The strategy will be published by April 2010 and the accompanying legal guidance no later than December 2010.
You can read more here
Congratulations to the NAS and Cheryl Gillan MP.
Tania is an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. She also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media.
Tania is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
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May I join you in offering congratulations. a lot of people have worked very hard to make this happen. This is a great day for autistic people and their families.