Rt Hon Sir Julian smith KCB CBE MP has shown his support for the National Autistic Society’s call for the new Government to tackle inequality for autistic people and keep them at the heart of policy decisions.
Julian attended the National Autistic Society’s A Constant Fight event, at Portcullis House on Thursday, 23 January 2025, to learn more about the charity’s new report A Constant Fight: The Reality of Autistic People's Struggle for Support Across Health and Social Care, Education, Employment and Mental Health. The report highlights how autistic people are bearing the brunt of broken systems across society and over 2,000 people wrote to their MPs to ask them to support the event.
At the event, Julian heard directly from autistic people who have experienced barriers to getting the support they need in their lives. There were speeches by: Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society; Marie Tidball MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism; and members of the National Autistic Society’s Policy and Campaigns team.
Commenting, Julian said: “The National Autistic Society do great work supporting autistic people in the UK and their families by running specialist schools, campaigning for better rights, and training companies to be more autism-friendly. The ‘A Constant Fight event’ was great opportunity to learn more about the challenges and opportunities faced by autistic people in our communities and I will continue to press minsters to ensure autistic people receive the support they deserve.”
Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “We were pleased Sir Julian attended our A Constant Fight event in parliament and was able to hear directly from autistic people about the struggles they face in their daily lives and how urgently change is needed. Autistic people and their families can face a constant fight for support, from diagnosis and education to healthcare, mental health support, employment and beyond. The constant fight is exhausting and is blighting autistic people's lives, and it can have devastating consequences.
“By listening to autistic people about the issues they are facing and finding solutions to create a society that works for all autistic people, we can improve services and support across the board.”
