Autistic adults across Greater Manchester are lacking the vital support services they need, according to a Stockport MP – who is now urging the council to act.
The National Autistic Society has launched the ‘Push for Action’ campaign after a survey they carried out showed many adults with the disability felt they lacked the necessary help.
And with one in every hundred Stockport adults having autism, Hazel Grove’s parliamentary representative Andrew Stunell believes now is the time to improve support provision.
“I will be writing to the Council to make sure the needs of people with autism in Stockport are being put front and centre,” he said.
“If they don’t have the right support, many people with autism can struggle with the everyday activities that many of us take for granted.
“With the impact of the Autism Act under review, I hope I can count on the support of local people in the area to get behind the NAS’ ‘Push for Action’ campaign.
“This opportunity to improve life for adults with the condition needs to be seized.”
The National Autistic Society surveyed 1000 autistic adults nationwide, with the message being social services departments across the country need to do more.
The main areas which autism sufferers feel require improvement are help to wash and dress, assistance with managing money and help to find work.
And while National Autistic Society chief executive Mark Lever accepts progress has been made in recent years, he believes there is currently an opportunity to do far more.
“It’s great news Andrew Stunell is championing this important campaign,” he said. “Adults with autism have been waiting a long time to get the everyday support that they need.
“We’ve seen great strides forward in some parts of the country since 2009, but progress has been too slow and too patchy.
“The Government’s Autism Act review gives people with autism a second chance to be heard – we need to make it count.”
Picture courtesy of National Autism Society media centre, with thanks.
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