Autism Bill and what they said

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As you may know, the government is looking at making new laws about autism, and the Bill recently got discussed in the House of Commons.

www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm 200809/cmhansrd/cm090227x/debtext/90227-0001.htm#0902273600000 3

I had to laugh though - bless them...the MPs were discussing this amongst themselves and one of them managed to say he's a Vice Chair of the main group about autism. But his speech said

"A vicious triangle ensued..it was only by banging those people's heads together and having pooled funding...we use the Bill to drill down..and...ensure joint working"

Sorry, but for those of us with visual ASDs that is just a brilliant set of mental images. A vicious triangle stalking the MPs, violence, a pool of money, some drilling, someone's joints which needed to work better?

Yet it's well worth a read. You have to keep going to 'next section' to read all of it (goes on for pages and pages).

Thanks for the link.

''Sorry, but for those of us with visual ASDs that is just a brilliant set of mental images. A vicious triangle stalking the MPs, violence, a pool of money, some drilling, someone's joints which needed to work better?'

ROFL - very funny

I guess you could say you are at least bilingual!

Even better, the very final words spoken by the Government Minister,

"..the adult autism stratgegy would not look out of place in a "Jaws" movie. It will have real bite" Swim for the shore, men, quick!

For those unable to read through two hours-worth of paperwork, some highlights:

Lots of MPs said they're really in favour of a Bill. The government said they'd rather not have one as they are sure they can just write something suitable that isn't really law. The MPs said 'rhubarb! You've promised that before!" or words to that effect.

Lots of statistics...many horrifying.

1 in 100 has a form of autism
That's 500,000 people in the UK

At least 300,000 of those are over 18

40 out of 100 of children with autism are bullied

27 out of 100 are excluded from school, most of these more than once.

42 out of 100 have no friends, compared to only 1 out of 100 of non-ASD children (!)

63 out of 100 adults with an ASD don't get the support they need

82 out of 100 children need some sort of daily support

Only 15 out of 100 are in full time work

In Pupil Referral Units, where children go if a school has expelled them and no-one else will take them, 3 out of every 4 pupils in them are on the autism spectrum.

1 in 3 adults with an ASD has a mental health problem because of the lack of help

And they have no clue what people's actual needs are, because there's been no study done of it yet, despite endless promises to do one.

Definitely a much-needed Bill, I'd say, personally speaking.

Arr, that'd be old Autism Bill, as his mates call him, a hardy soul if ever there was one