PM urged to spell out plans on World Autism Day » Communities » 24dash.com

Autism Campaigners have asked the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Children's Secretary Ed Balls to spell out their plans to help parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome on World Autism Day 2008 which takes place on the 2nd of April.

The United Nations in New York has designed 2nd April as World Autism Day on the recommendation of Qatar.

Ivan Corea, head of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Her Majesty's Government to provide better public services in education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care for over 500,000 people with autism in the UK.

Over 90 MPs have signed Harry Cohen MP's early day motion 705 on autism calling on the Government to launch a national strategy on autism and a 10 year plan of action on autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

MPs of all parties are urging firm and decisive action on autism, now a very serious education and health issue in the UK.

Support has also come for Baroness Pola Uddin's call for an autism taskforce and for the Government to consult more widely

Lee Scott MP's autism bill will have the second reading in May this year in the House of Commons. Scott is calling for ring-fenced funding for autism services.

There are over 60 million people with autism around the world. Campaigners are hoping that World Autism Day will focus on the struggles of parents, carers and people with autism across the globe.

In many countries in Africa and Asia, people have virtually very little access to public services. Many children are kept at home because of culture.