Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People, visits autism charity TreeHouse

Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People as well as MP for Chatham & Aylesford, paid a visit to TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, to meet pupils, parents and staff today (Tuesday 20 October).

Mr Shaw’s visit came at a crucial time - TreeHouse is currently responding to a government consultation about a new ‘National Care Service’ which proposes to streamline some of the benefits available to families of children with autism. Many of these families are reliant on Disability Living Allowance to meet the complex additional needs that many children with autism have and there is a need to ensure it continues to support their needs in the most effective way.

Sasha Daly, TreeHouse Policy & Parliamentary Manager, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Shaw to TreeHouse’s National Centre today. He heard directly from parents of children with autism, as well as practitioners, about the level of care and expertise required and the types of support and benefits needed to ensure children with autism reach their full potential.”

Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People said:

"I welcome the vital role that schools like TreeHouse play in making autism specialist provision available and the support they give to help parents.

It has been very encouraging to meet the children and staff here at TreeHouse School and see for myself the excellent services that are available and the difference to people’s lives that they make."

During his visit to TreeHouse Mr Shaw also met parents from the MAGIC, a parent group from Medway who campaign for better services for children with autism in their local area. MAGIC was supported by TreeHouse as part of the DCSF funded Parent Support Project, which ran from 2006 until 2009.