I take it you have to actually be a voter for this?
Seems a good idea, I will forward it to the lady from the local council who recently sat in with our support group, as they have formed a task force to improve support for adults and adolescents with autism and ADHD in the area
Lobby form and petition filled in. I also get a chance to ask the candidates in constituency on Tuesday when I go with my classmates to a meet the candidates. I may ask if they'd be prepared support the manifesto.
Emphasis on may though as I've got some other questions that I'd preferr to ask (such as their views on the lifting of the EU arms embargo on China) and there will more likely then not be a lot of people who also have questions to ask so I may not get a chance to put any question across.
Sjo, they mention research and intervention, are they opposed to cure, pro-cure, or is it not an issue that they tackle at all?
Noetic, can't you vote as your were born abroad?
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism's manifesto is fairly innocuous although it does describe autism as a "disorder" and "life-long disability", but it has been promoted by a much more offensive campaign by PACE who are advisors to the APPGA. I came across the following wording in a letter to my local paper which I traced back to the PACE web site: "It is a life-long condition for which there may be effective intervention but for which there is currently no cure. Everyone with a diagnosis of Autism has serious difficulties in processing information and understanding other people. These difficulties combine to make everyday life a frightening and confusing challenge... Autism costs the UK economy at least £1 billiion each year, yet we still not so little about its causes or which treaments and interventions are most effective." I have written a reply to that letter making it clear that, whilst I support initiatives to improve communication between NTs and autistics and overcome discrimination, I do not have a disability and therefore do not need to be cured. Interestingly the AAPGA advisory group consists entirely of NT dominated groups, most if not all of which are pro-cure. I am also writing to them to ask why that is.
Hi rstjohn, so do you feel that this Manifesto has ultimately negative intentions for us?
Hi Amy,
I do not believe there are any specifcally negative intentions with the the APPGA and their manifesto, in fact, if you put aside their careless use of terms such as "disorder" and "disablity", I would probably support most of it as have earlier correspondents. My concern is with the vested interests that are influencing how it might be implemented. The advisory group consists of NAS, PACE (whose position is well commented upon on this site and others) and then AiA,
Autism Research Centre, Autism Research Unit: three groups with a strong interest in getting money spent on finding a "cure" for autism.
What seems to be lacking is any autistic advocacy representation on the advisory group but I do not know whether there is anyone they could go to if they wanted to. Do any of the groups like AFF have an existence outside of the internet?
R
" Do any of the groups like AFF have an existence outside of the internet? "
Well as individuals and small groups we exist.
Groups like the NAS and Autism Cymru know that there are many adults with AS and autism who are concerned about the future and politics of autism.
If they can find parents and professionals to contribute, it can't be so hard to find us and ask opinions.