NAS councillor view...

[Guest guest]

I am here – just about – but we have our Annual

Review on Friday. This is the most stressful it has ever been. No one should

have to go through this.

As parents of autistic children, specifically mothers, we

juggle so much, in my case, often badly, just to keep the show on the road.

To have to endure so much fighting just to ensure our

children have the provision that they as of right require by virtue of their

diagnosis.

I know Zoe is swamped at the moment too, but we think fairly

similarly on these things.

I recently wrote an article for The Autism

File about writing to your MP. I had an

interesting experience when my MP said he didn’t know anything about

Autism at all and was keen to learn so could I brief him (which I will do once I

get through Annual Review). The internal disagreements between the autistic community are not MPs business. What is their business is

helping specific constituents’ with specific problems eg

accessing and keeping appropriate provision for children/people with autism. Now is the time approach your MP –

if possible go and see him I agree with Sally about the areas for focus –

Sally I hope you don’t mind I have copied in your suggestions – as I

couldn’t put it better :

" My

child is autistic and no appropriate schooling is available. This

will increase public costs because he will be less independent than he

might be with proper education. I want...................

" My child is autistic and the statementing

process is a nightmare.

............

" I cannot get SLT for my autistic child. I have spent money and time

getting it into his statement and now the lea says it can't provide it.

Am I supposed to take legal action again? This is one law for the rich

and one for the poor............

I would focus on statementing, education etc which

are things MPs can do

something about rather than the NHS and medical side which they would

see as something out of their area ie a matter for

expertise which they

don't have

Re NAS – I became a Councillor

to try and bring about some of the changes that are being talked about. Rest

assured, there are other like minded Councillors.

Can I suggest that I try to bring up these concerns at the

next meeting of the NAS Council – I’m just too frazzled to remember

when it is now, but it is sometime in March.

Please, if you really care about this, can you join the NAS,

and become a Councillor and help us out, the tide is

turning – but boy do we need your help.

Alison