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Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan outlines the need for her Autism Bill, which is being considered in the Commons on Friday.
As soon as I won the political lottery and was drawn first out of the private members' ballot in December, I was inundated with numerous causes and issues, all worthy of support.
However, believing that a private members' bill should cover an area that would ordinarily be overlooked, it was the Autism Bill that really captured my attention.
It is simply unacceptable how hard people affected by autism have to fight for the services that should be theirs by right. Many simply don't receive the kind of support that would help them reach their full potential in adulthood, with at least one in three adults with autism saying they are experiencing serious mental health difficulties as a result.
The shocking failure of many local authorities to recognise the needs of the half a million children and adults with this serious, lifelong and disabling condition, therefore, made it absolutely necessary to try and create autism legislation.
Earlier this week and in response to political pressure from the Autism Bill, the government outlined a raft of new measures for people affected by this complex disability in a letter to MPs.
When fully implemented, they could help to address the shocking lack of autism services which leaves people affected by the condition feeling isolated, ignored and often at breaking point.
This is a real testament to the weight of support from my colleagues, including the sterling work already done in this field by Angela Browning MP, autism campaigners including the 6,000 people who emailed their MP, the National Autistic Society and the 15 other autism charities which backed the bill.
Measures outlined by the government respond to demands made in the Autism Bill and should, when fully introduced, hold local authorities legally accountable if they do not provide appropriate support for children and adults with autism.
This includes improving information on the number of children and adults with autism, ensuring an effective transition from child to adult services and tackling the chronic lack of support for adults with autism.
Without the right support autism can have a profound and sometimes devastating effect, not only on individuals affected by the condition but also on their families and carers.
I will keep campaigning until the government delivers on its pledges to fully support people affected by autism. This will include pressing the Bill in Parliament on the February 27. The real test will be in how the government implements this package of measures in the long term.
Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan outlines the need for her Autism Bill, which is being considered in the Commons on Friday.
As soon as I won the political lottery and was drawn first out of the private members' ballot in December, I was inundated with numerous causes and issues, all worthy of support.
However, believing that a private members' bill should cover an area that would ordinarily be overlooked, it was the Autism Bill that really captured my attention.
It is simply unacceptable how hard people affected by autism have to fight for the services that should be theirs by right. Many simply don't receive the kind of support that would help them reach their full potential in adulthood, with at least one in three adults with autism saying they are experiencing serious mental health difficulties as a result.
The shocking failure of many local authorities to recognise the needs of the half a million children and adults with this serious, lifelong and disabling condition, therefore, made it absolutely necessary to try and create autism legislation.
Earlier this week and in response to political pressure from the Autism Bill, the government outlined a raft of new measures for people affected by this complex disability in a letter to MPs.
When fully implemented, they could help to address the shocking lack of autism services which leaves people affected by the condition feeling isolated, ignored and often at breaking point.
This is a real testament to the weight of support from my colleagues, including the sterling work already done in this field by Angela Browning MP, autism campaigners including the 6,000 people who emailed their MP, the National Autistic Society and the 15 other autism charities which backed the bill.
Measures outlined by the government respond to demands made in the Autism Bill and should, when fully introduced, hold local authorities legally accountable if they do not provide appropriate support for children and adults with autism.
This includes improving information on the number of children and adults with autism, ensuring an effective transition from child to adult services and tackling the chronic lack of support for adults with autism.
Without the right support autism can have a profound and sometimes devastating effect, not only on individuals affected by the condition but also on their families and carers.
I will keep campaigning until the government delivers on its pledges to fully support people affected by autism. This will include pressing the Bill in Parliament on the February 27. The real test will be in how the government implements this package of measures in the long term.
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